Biocon has launched Yesafili, a biosimilar version of Regeneron’s Eylea, in the U.S. market. The drug, aflibercept-jbvf, is designed to treat several eye conditions, including wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), diabetic macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy.
Yesafili works by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that contributes to abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye. Blocking VEGF can slow retinal damage and help preserve vision in patients with these conditions.
Pricing and market impact
The wholesale acquisition cost for Yesafili is $1,445, according to a Biocon spokesperson. That’s roughly 30% lower than the current list price of Eylea 2 mg, which will rise to $2,038.61 in July 2026. The company expects broad insurance coverage for the biosimilar.
Yesafili is the second Eylea biosimilar to enter the U.S. market. Amgen’s Pavblu, which launched in November 2024, has a list price of $2,220.93 for four 1 ml vials. Amgen offers a $0 copay for commercially insured patients and up to $1,000 toward administration costs.
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Eylea’s sales have already taken a hit. In 2025, revenue from Eylea 2 mg dropped 42% to $2.7 billion, down from $4.7 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, sales of Eylea HD, the 8 mg version, increased 36%.
The arrival of biosimilars is pushing prices downward. A recent report from Samsung Bioepis found that both the wholesale acquisition cost and average sales prices of aflibercept are falling.
This trend isn’t likely to reverse. Several more Eylea biosimilars are expected to launch in the coming years, including Sandoz’s Enzeevu in late 2026 and Samsung Bioepis’ Opuviz in early 2027. The competition could further reduce costs for patients and insurers, though it remains unclear how quickly adoption will spread.
Approval and clinical evidence
Yesafili received FDA approval in May 2024 as an interchangeable biosimilar. The decision was based on analytical tests, biological assays, and a phase 3 clinical study called INSIGHT. The trial found no clinically meaningful differences between Yesafili and Eylea in pharmacokinetics, safety, efficacy, or immunogenicity.
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Wet age-related macular degeneration affects an estimated 1.4 million Americans, primarily those over 60. The condition occurs when abnormal blood vessels leak fluid under the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision. Left untreated, it can lead to significant vision loss.
Shreehas Tambe, Biocon’s CEO and managing director, called the U.S. launch “an important step in expanding the global availability of biosimilar Aflibercept 2 mg for patients with eye conditions.”
At least one other approved biosimilar, Formycon’s Ahzantive, has yet to launch. Alvotech and Teva’s AVT06 is still awaiting FDA approval.
The shift toward biosimilars in ophthalmology mirrors broader trends in other therapeutic areas. But unlike cancer drugs or autoimmune treatments, eye injections require specialized administration, which could slow the pace of adoption. Still, the cost savings may prove too significant for insurers to ignore.
