Join now & save up to 80% on medication

JOIN NOW
Select Language:

Join now and save 80% on medication

Register/Login

What are Biosimilar Drugs?

Share Post:

What are biosimilar drugs?

In its simplest definition, biosimilar drugs are synthetic versions of biologic drugs that have been utilized to treat various illnesses and conditions. These are medicines that are very close to biologic drugs in terms of their function and structure.

In order to understand biosimilars, it is essential to know about biologics first. Biologics consists of proteins made by living organisms. It is entirely different from traditional drugs, where chemicals are used and are referred to as small molecules contained in pills like aspirin.

As mentioned, biosimilars act as a replica of biologic drugs. Each of the produced biosimilars is made with the same materials and similar processes as its reference medicines. These reference medicines are biologic drugs that have been used for many years now. The best examples of biologic drugs are Infliximab (Remicade), Etanercept (Enbrel), and Adalimumab (Humira).

Biosimilars vs Generics

The main differences between biosimilars and generics involve their molecular sizes, structures, complexity, and costs of their development. Consider the following information:

Biosimilar drugs, alongside their reference biologic medicines, are very much the same but not entirely identical. This is because of the following reasons:

  • Biologic drugs are large and complex.
  • Biologic drugs consist of living organisms instead of chemicals.

On the other hand, generic drugs have identical properties to their reference medicines. Unlike biosimilars, generics are made of small molecules that are produced with chemical ingredients and processes. Generic drugs are the exact copies of what we call branded medications.

FDA-approved biosimilars

The following are biosimilar drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The table below includes their reference products and approval date.

  Biosimilar Drugs  Reference Products (Medicines)  Approval Dates
Byooviz (ranibizumab-nuna)Lucentis (ranibizumab)September 2021 
Rezvoglar (insulin glargine-aglr)Lantus (insulin glargine)December 2021
Yusimry (adalimumab-aqvh)Humira (adalimumab)December 2021
Releuko (filgrastim-ayow)Neupogen (filgrastim)February 2022
Alymsys (bevacizumab-maly)Avastin (bevacizumab)April 2022
Fylnetra (pegfilgrastim-pbbk)Neulasta (pegfilgrastim)May 2022
Cimerli (ranibizumab-eqrn)Lucentis (ranibizumab) August 2022
Stimufend (pegfilgrastim-fpgk)Neulasta (pegfilgrastim)September 2022
Vegzelma (bevacizumab-adcd)Avastin (bevacizumab)September 2022
Profile image of CDI Staff Writer

Written by CDI Staff WriterOur internal team are experts in many subjects. on November 21, 2022

Related Products

Promotion
Ozempic
  • In Stock
  • Express Shipping
New Lower Price
Mounjaro Vial
  • In Stock
  • Express Shipping
Promotion
Rybelsus
  • In Stock
  • Express Shipping
Bulk Savings
Humalog Vial
  • In Stock
  • Express Shipping

Related Articles

Diabetes, Type 2
Mounjaro Face: Why It Happens and What to Do

Weight loss medications like Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are transforming the way people manage type 2 diabetes and obesity. While many celebrate the success of shedding pounds, some notice changes in their…

Read More
Diabetes, Diabetes Supplies,
Lantus Insulin Cartridge: Simple, Steady Blood Sugar Control

Research shows that 8.4 million Americans rely on insulin to manage diabetes, and many are looking for ways to make treatment simpler. The Lantus insulin cartridge, designed for use with…

Read More
Diabetes, Diabetes Supplies,
Insulin Pen vs Syringe: Pros, Cons, and Differences

If you have diabetes, taking insulin is part of your daily life. But one decision you might not expect is choosing between an insulin pen vs syringe. Both deliver the…

Read More
Diabetes, Diabetes Supplies,
Common Toujeo Side Effects and Tips for Handling Them

According to the American Diabetes Association, 38.4 million Americans live with diabetes, and many rely on injectable treatments to help control blood sugar. Toujeo is one such option, offering long-lasting…

Read More