Biosimilars need well-rounded health care support

Today’s the five-year anniversary for the first biosimilar in the U.S. On March 6, 2015, Sandoz’s Zarxio, a bone marrow stimulant, was approved as a viable alternative to Amgen’s Neupogen. But it’s taken all this time for Zarxio to gain more than half of the market share — even though it’s less costly than the branded version.

That’s because “ambiguity around the term ‘biosimilarity’ and disinformation campaigns by some innovator companies have sown doubt among providers and played,” according to one biosimilar purveyor, who opines for STAT about the sector’s slow start. It’ll take a concerted effort from all players in the therapeutics landscape — from legislators to payers to manufacturers — to bring these less-costly medications to patients who need them.