Biosimilars, explained
(ALEX HOGAN/STAT)
Whether you’ve ever pondered why a long-promised biosimilars revolution never came, puzzled over why Humira ads are still on your TV, or wondered just what a “biosimilar” even is, we have answers for you.
The word “biosimilar” gets thrown around a lot nowadays, so we figured we’d explain what they are, what they are not, and why they’ve sparked a legal dispute with billions of dollars on the line.
The gist is that biosimilars are cheaper versions of blockbuster drugs that can be sold as soon as those blockbusters lose patent protection. But while they’re conceptually similar to generics — the low-cost pills available in pharmacies around the world — there’s vastly important distinction: Biosimilars mimic biologic drugs, which are crafted from living cells, and that means they’re not technically identical the way off-brand atorvastatin is identical to Lipitor.
It also means actually selling them in the U.S. is harder than you might think.
Watch the video.
The word “biosimilar” gets thrown around a lot nowadays, so we figured we’d explain what they are, what they are not, and why they’ve sparked a legal dispute with billions of dollars on the line.
The gist is that biosimilars are cheaper versions of blockbuster drugs that can be sold as soon as those blockbusters lose patent protection. But while they’re conceptually similar to generics — the low-cost pills available in pharmacies around the world — there’s vastly important distinction: Biosimilars mimic biologic drugs, which are crafted from living cells, and that means they’re not technically identical the way off-brand atorvastatin is identical to Lipitor.
It also means actually selling them in the U.S. is harder than you might think.
Watch the video.
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