Biosimilars

“I’ve been fighting Crohn’s disease with a biologic medication for as long as I can remember. When I turned 26, I switched health care plans, and the biologic that I had been taking for years wasn’t covered anymore, but my doctor knew of a biosimilar that would be. So we made the change, and now I don’t pay anything for my infusions. I hope that others can have the same access and that more biosimilars will become available on insurance plans in the future. I can’t imagine not having access.” — Eileen, 28, New York, NY.

Steroids were not controlling Greg’s ulcerative colitis, so his gastroenterologist put him on a biologic medication. After a while, his insurance plan recommended switching to a biosimilar—a safe, effective alternative to a brand-name biologic. “My doctor was on board,” recalls Greg, a weight lifter and pizza fanatic. “I trust my doctor, so I switched to the biosimilar and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.”

Savings from biosimilars for patients like Greg totaled $8 billion in 2020 and are projected to save $133 billion over the next five years.

The Biosimilars Council, a division of the Association for Accessible Medicines, works to increase patient access to lifesaving, affordable biosimilar medicines. Leveraging our deep relationships on Capitol Hill, in federal agencies like FDA and CMS, and in the states, we strive to create a positive regulatory, reimbursement, political and policy environment to assure biosimilars thrive, providing billions in savings to patients and the health care system. Our members include biosimilar manufacturers and stakeholders working to promote biosimilar products in the U.S. market.