New Hope for Bone Health: Biosimilars Poised to Boost Access and Cut Costs

LONDON – December 02, 2025

For the more than 200 million people worldwide living with osteoporosis, the silent fragility of their bones is a constant concern. A simple fall can lead to a debilitating fracture, diminishing independence and quality of life. This burden, compounded by the skeletal complications faced by many cancer patients, represents a profound challenge for individuals and a significant strain on global healthcare systems. Today, a major shift in the pharmaceutical landscape promises to bring welcome relief, heralding a new era of more accessible and affordable care for these vulnerable populations.

Accord Healthcare has announced the European launch of two critical new medicines, Osvyrti and Jubereq. These are not new chemical entities but are instead known as biosimilars—highly similar, rigorously tested, and more affordable versions of existing biologic drugs. This development, timed with the recent patent expiry of Amgen’s blockbuster treatments Prolia and Xgeva, is set to unlock access for countless patients who have previously faced cost as a barrier to proven therapy.

A More Accessible Era in Bone Health

The newly launched medicines are biosimilars of denosumab, a monoclonal antibody that has been a game-changer in bone health for over a decade. It works by targeting and inhibiting a protein essential for the formation, function, and survival of bone-resorbing cells, thereby slowing bone deterioration.

Accord’s Osvyrti, a biosimilar to Prolia, is indicated for treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men at increased risk of fractures, as well as bone loss associated with certain cancer treatments. Its counterpart, Jubereq, a biosimilar to Xgeva, is aimed at preventing serious skeletal events like fractures or spinal cord compression in adults with advanced cancers that have spread to the bone.

The significance of these launches lies in their potential to democratize access to a vital treatment. “These biosimilars have the potential to provide a large number of patients with treatment alternatives that lessen cost as a barrier to accessing proven therapies,” said Paul Tredwell, Global CEO of Accord Healthcare, in a statement. “At Accord, we are passionate about leading biosimilar adoption, and OSVYRTI and JUBEREQ represent important progress in expanding access.”

A Wave of Competition to Lower Healthcare Costs

Accord’s announcement is a key part of a much larger story unfolding across Europe. The patent protections for Amgen’s Prolia and Xgeva—which together generated over $5.5 billion in global sales in 2024—have recently expired in key European markets, opening the floodgates for competition. The European denosumab market, valued at approximately €1 billion, is now a hotbed of activity.

Accord is entering a dynamic and crowded field. Major pharmaceutical players including Sandoz, STADA, Biocon Biologics, and Fresenius Kabi have all launched or received approval for their own denosumab biosimilars in recent days and weeks. This influx of competition is precisely what healthcare systems like the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) have been waiting for. When multiple manufacturers offer a clinically equivalent product, prices are driven down, creating a ripple effect of savings.

These savings are not trivial. They can free up billions in healthcare budgets, allowing for reinvestment into other areas of patient care, from diagnostics to innovative new treatments. For patients, the impact is even more direct: lower co-pays and, most importantly, the assurance that a doctor’s prescription is based on clinical need, not constrained by prohibitive costs.

The Science of Similarity: Ensuring Patient Safety and Trust

For any patient or clinician, the question of whether a biosimilar is as safe and effective as the original is paramount. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has one of the world's most robust regulatory frameworks for biosimilars, requiring extensive evidence to prove their comparability to the reference medicine.

Both Osvyrti and Jubereq underwent a rigorous approval process, including comprehensive Phase I and Phase III clinical trials. The studies for Osvyrti, for example, demonstrated that it produced comparable increases in lumbar spine bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis when compared to Prolia. Critically, the trials confirmed there were no clinically meaningful differences in efficacy, safety, or immunogenicity between the biosimilar and its reference product. The results were so conclusive that they support Osvyrti as a clinically interchangeable alternative.

This scientific validation is the bedrock of trust in biosimilars. It assures doctors they can switch patients or start new ones on these medicines with confidence, knowing they are providing the same standard of care. This foundation of evidence is crucial for accelerating adoption and ensuring the full benefits of competition are realized.

A Strategic Push for a Sustainable Future

The launch is a cornerstone of Accord Healthcare’s ambitious long-term strategy. The company has publicly stated its goal to bring 20 biosimilars to market by 2030, positioning itself as a key driver of sustainable healthcare. This vision extends beyond a single product or disease area, reflecting a broader commitment to addressing systemic challenges in medicine.

By focusing on producing high-quality, cost-effective biosimilars for complex conditions like cancer and autoimmune diseases, companies like Accord are not just competing for market share; they are actively participating in the creation of a more equitable healthcare ecosystem. The introduction of Osvyrti and Jubereq is a tangible example of progress in action—innovation that directly serves people by making proven, life-altering medicines more widely available.

As this new wave of denosumab biosimilars rolls out across Europe, it marks a pivotal moment for millions. For the woman managing her osteoporosis or the man battling cancer, this shift means greater access to treatments that can protect their bones, preserve their mobility, and ultimately improve their quality of life. It is a powerful reminder that progress in medicine is measured not only by the discovery of new drugs, but also by our ability to deliver existing ones to everyone who needs them.