Are Scare Tactics Being Used to Avoid Biosimilar Competition?

Biosimilars are essentially generic versions of biologic drugs. But unlike traditional generic drugs, they are not direct copycats of the branded drugs they are designed to compete with. They are, in fact, “similar.” As a result, biosimilars must go through a regulatory approval process much like their branded drugs do. The subtle differences are apparently being used by marketers, biopharma companies and industry-funded advocacy groups to fend off competition by sowing doubts about the safety or effectiveness of biosimilars.