Imitation biologics are therapeutically equivalent to the original drugs

One of the main differences is of course that biosimilars are, or are set to be, available at significantly lower prices than those of the originator products. Prof. Dr. Thomas Dörner, from the Medical Department, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at Charité, stresses that "the introduction of these medicines needs to be handled in a responsible manner, and requires the input of experienced practitioners." Prof. Dörner adds that "the decision as to which medicine a patient is to be given should remain the responsibility of the treating physician. What must not be allowed to happen is what is currently happening with traditional generics, namely that pharmacies automatically substitute one product for another."

For their article, the authors analyzed a wealth of information on the development of biosimilars. Their review, which covers almost every biological drug available, also addresses the enormous variations currently seen in approval processes across the globe. Their findings suggest that the introduction of biosimilars into clinical practice must go hand-in-hand with the creation of national registers, which allow data on potential side effects to be collated. The authors conclude that the approval and introduction of biosimilars offer access to both established and new treatment options. Biosimilars are also likely to reduce the costs associated with the treatment of inflammatory diseases in the fields of rheumatology, dermatology, and gastroenterology.