WASHINGTON – Generic and biosimilar medicines saved $496 billion for U.S. patients and the health care system in 2025, according to the Association for Accessible Medicines’ latest annual savings report.
The 2026 U.S. Generic & Biosimilar Medicines Savings Report, developed with the IQVIA Institute, found that generics and biosimilars accounted for 89% of prescriptions filled in the United States and represented 12% of prescription drug spending. Over the past decade, these medicines have generated more than $3.6 trillion in savings.
In 2025, patients filled approximately 4 billion generic prescriptions, costing $106 billion, compared with 485 million brand-name prescriptions costing $804 billion.
Medicare savings from generic and biosimilar medicines totaled $166 billion in the year, equivalent to $3,011 per beneficiary. Generics and biosimilars accounted for 1.1% of overall U.S. health care spending, according to the report.
“In only ten years, the generics and biosimilars industry saved U.S. patients and taxpayers a combined $3.6 trillion, and there’s no denying our industry is one of the greatest success stories in healthcare,” said John Murphy III, president and CEO of AAM.
Murphy said the industry faces sustainability pressures that could contribute to supply chain disruptions, drug shortages and manufacturers leaving the U.S. market. AAM is calling for policy changes, including streamlined FDA processes and measures addressing patent practices, pharmacy benefit manager incentives and federal drug pricing policies.
The report also highlighted biosimilars' growing contribution. Since 2015, biosimilars have generated $81.6 billion in savings and have been used in nearly 3.8 billion days of patient therapy. AAM said biosimilars have expanded patient access to treatment by nearly 571 million days.
“Biosimilars represent one of the most powerful tools we have to expand access, strengthen healthcare resilience, and unlock meaningful savings,” said Alex Keeton, executive director of the Biosimilars Council and senior vice president of policy.
Keeton said the sector continues to face barriers to market access, pricing dynamics, PBMs, and patent challenges despite recent regulatory progress.
The annual report was developed in partnership with the IQVIA Institute, continuing a collaboration spanning more than 15 years that examines the financial and therapeutic impact of generic and biosimilar medicines in the United States.
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