Moving the needle: Biosimilar substitution
Moving the needle
By Victoria Houghton, managing editor, September 1, 2021
DermWorld breaks down the latest highlights of AADA advocacy activities at the federal and state legislative and regulatory level.
Over the last decade, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several dozen biosimilar products, with more approvals anticipated every year. The introduction of biosimilars to the pharmaceutical market holds the potential to offer patients on biologics lower-cost treatment options.
However, due to their inherent variability, biologics can never be exactly replicated, and it cannot be assumed that they will be equally effective and have the same side effects and safety profile. To ensure patient safety, biosimilar substitutions must be carefully evaluated by a patient’s physician and health care team to determine the benefits and risks.
For almost 10 years the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) has worked with several organizations at the state level to advocate for biosimilar substitution legislation that ensures that physicians are notified by the pharmacist of the exact product dispensed to their patient by the time of dispensing. The result? All 50 states have passed biosimilar substitution legislation:
Advocacy priorities
Learn about the Academy’s advocacy priorities and how to join efforts to protect your practice.
