A biologic is a medicine made from a living thing like a human, animal, plant, or bacteria. They treat things like:
cancer,
rheumatoid arthritis,
inflammatory bowel disease, and
anemia.
Reference Medicines
“Reference” means the “first” of this type of biologic medicine to be approved.
Biosimilar Medicine
This is medicine that is highly similar to a reference medicine, i.e., an existing biologic medicine. They have similar safety and treatment effects.
Benefits include:
Lower drug prices
Lower healthcare costs
Better access to medicine
Naming of Biologics and Biosimilars
Names of these medicines are the same, but biosimilar medicines include four letters at the end of the product name. The brand names are not the same. See examples below.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if biosimilars are right for you.