Ep 1- Biosimilars 101

Biosimilar medications were introduced into the US market in 2015, but they’re still relatively unfamiliar to many people. In our first episode, co-hosts Zoe Rothblatt and Conner Mertens provide an overview of biosimilars – what they are, how they can help with certain medical conditions, and the main differences between biosimilars, biologics and generic medications.

“If we have a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and they take the original biologic or the biosimilar, their rheumatoid arthritis will improve with either of them,” says internal medicine physician Dr. Sameer Awsare.

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:27 - Common questions about biosimilars

2:07 – How are generic drugs different from biologic drugs?

2:48 – The complexities of replicating a biologic drug

4:33 – Are biosimilars just as effective as biologics?

6:11 – Talking to your doctor about taking a biosimilar

10:13 – New developments on the horizon

Contact Our Hosts:

Zoe Rothblatt, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF. zrothblatt@ghlf.org

Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF. cmertens@ghlf.org

We’d love to hear what you think. Send your comments to BreakingDownBiosimilars@GHLF.org

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