Opinion: Biosimilars: the cure for sky-high drug prices or a stake in the heart of innovation?

The impact of drugs known as biologics is immense. Millions of patients are now treated with medications in this fast-growing class of therapeutic products and the market continues to grow. Biosimilars — medications designed to be similar or interchangeable with biologics — should further increase access to treatment and lower costs for patients facing serious diseases. But whether or not biosimilars will be able to make significant inroads into this market is still an open question.

Unlike traditional drugs, which are generally small, easily characterized molecules made via chemistry — think aspirin or antidepressants — biologics are generally large, complex molecules that are often produced by living organisms. include Enbrel, Herceptin, and Humira. These highly complex treatments often: Biologic drugs accounted for almost 40 percent of U.S. prescription drug spending and 70 percent of drug spending growth from 2010 to 2015.