Biosimilars are biologic medical products whose active drug substance is made by a living organism or derived from a living organism by means of controlled gene expression. In a new article in the Philadelphia Business Journal, Dr. Brad Klein argues that physicians should be made aware if pharmacies choose to switch a physician-prescribed biologic product for a biosimilar.
Just consider weeks or months in the course of a biologic treatment that isn’t offering the expected benefits – because, unbeknownst to the doctor, his patient is in fact taking a biosimilar that proves less effective. Treatment goes awry. New symptoms or side effects emerge. The doctor may order more diagnostics, incurring unnecessary cost for the patient. He may even admit the patient to the hospital to treat what is, essentially, a case of misinformation.
Read more in the Philadelphia Business Journal.