Bucshon’s bill promotes use, education about biosimilars

U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) on Sept. 19 offered a bipartisan bill to raise awareness about biosimilars, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says are biological products that are demonstrated to be biosimilar to or interchangeable with an FDA-approved biological medical product.

“As new biological and biosimilar product options become available,” Rep. Bucshon said, “it is important that physicians have current information on these therapies in order to choose the best treatment for their patients.”

Rep. Bucshon introduced the Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act of 2019, H.R. 4400, with bill cosponsor U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) as a companion bill to the same-named S. 1681 introduced in May in the U.S. Senate.

According to Rep. Bucshon’s office, biosimilars and generic pharmaceuticals offer patients more affordable treatments and cures than the reference biologic, but the United States has not seen the same level of biosimilars use as in other nations. Education and awareness for health care providers and patients about biosimilars could help improve the uptake of biosimilars, according to the congressman’s office.

“I believe information and education on these new and complex treatments for providers and patients will lead to healthy competition in the biologic and biosimilar product space, and ultimately help to lower the cost of these important drugs for patients,” said Rep. Bucshon, a medical doctor.

If enacted, the measure would require the FDA to create a public website to educate patients and providers about biological and biosimilar products, as well as how to report on any risks to patient health and safety, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Bucshon’s office.