The treatment of choice for rheumatic diseases has traditionally been the use of biological agents called bio-originators. These agents are derived from microorganisms, animals or humans. The increasing cost of these agents has put effective treatment out of the reach of many disease sufferers.
A group of international rheumatologists, patient representatives and specialists in related fields conducted a scientific review to determine if the use of “biosimilars” can help give patients greater access to treatment. Biosimilars are substances that have been approved by the FDA because they are so similar to bio-originators that are already in use.
The task force addressed three questions. The first was the matter of cost. Biosimilars introduce more competition in the market and are expected to result in lower prices. It was predicted that the savings would be about 35 percent. In the United States, for a product with only one biosimilar available, the savings was only about 15 percent. The task force hopes that as more biosimilars become available, the cost savings will be more fully realized.
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