It’s possible you have not heard about biosimilars yet. Biosimilars are one of the best breakthroughs in science in quite a while. Biosimilars take genetic science and use it to allow the development of incredible alternative medicine. Biosimilars take what works in treating diseases and finds new ways to alter those and make them even better! Biosimilars are becoming a big thing in the pharmacy industry.
Biologics
The future of prescription is likely not going to be through unfortunate synthesized drugs. The future is likely biologics. Biologics are an incredible series of drugs that are used for some of the most dangerous things in the world. Biologics treat diseases like cancer, arthritis, anemia and diabetes.
Biologic drugs work in a different fashion from most other drugs. They work in a macro capacity instead of a micro one. Many basic drugs are small. Some common painkilers are made up of 21 molecules. But biologics work differently. They are made up of giant cells that have been used to treat those diseases. Many biologic drugs can be the size of over 20,000 atoms.
Biologic drugs worth through genetic modification of the living cells that treat disease. Slight modifications to these cells can create a better treatment than the normal cells. This increase efficacy is the key to biologics. Biologics are incredibly difficult to produce. Replicating these types of cells requires specific environments to grow in the exact same way.
What is a Biosimilar?
Biologics are very difficult to manufacture. They are complex and require very specific and intense manufacturing properties. So what does a biosimilar have to do with them? They are similar to the equivalent of a generic drug for a prescription drug. The difference is that while a biosimilar performs the same job, it has to do so with a different formula and molecular structure.
The molecular structure is everything in a biosimilar. Since they can’t copy the exact molecular structure, they need to differentiate them. Also, because they are creating their own structure, they need to have their own testing and trials completed. The change in biosimilar manufacturing makes them all wonderfully unique.
Low Cost Biological Therapy
Biological therapy is not cheap. While it’s been proving incredibly effective for a lot of different diseases, people are having to pay a lot for it. Many treatments can cost over $20,000 every year. For a disease that is chronic and lasts every year, then it’s quite possible that someone may need to set aside over $20,000 every year just for treatment.
This is not a feasible scenario for a lot of people. That’s just too much money. Thankfully, there are specific insurance programs and subsidies that allow for a much lower cost biological therapy. There are a series of programs like Rx Assist, the Crohn’s & Colitis Found of America and the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. All of these will help those in need find the treatment they require and assist in costs that medical insurance isn’t willing to help cover. These may require people to use biosimilars instead of specific biologics as long as they have the same effect.