In the Biosimilar Marketplace Will There Be 50 Ways to Leave Your Insulin?

J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2016 Aug 22;10(5):1188-91. doi: 10.1177/1932296816629488. Print 2016 Sep.

Abstract

The future biosimilar insulin marketplace could be a bane, benefit, or something in between, to patients under our care in the United States. Formulary preferred product status, with or without FDA interchangeability designation, coupled with current and proposed state pharmacy substitution laws may lead to an environment with as many as 50 different substitution guidelines depending on in which state a patient presents his or her prescription to be filled. If online global prescription supply options, often referred to as "Canada Drug," are utilized, other country substitution guidelines come into play, which may yield a recipe for confusion, if not disaster.

Keywords: biosimilar; insulin; legislative; prospective; quality; regulatory.

MeSH terms

  • Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals / standards*
  • Drug Approval
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / standards*
  • Insulin / standards*
  • United States
  • United States Food and Drug Administration

Substances

  • Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin