Biosimilars - Resources for Professionals
The resources provided here are designed to educate medical professionals about all aspects of biosimilars.
What are Biosimilars?
Biosimilars are biological therapies, proteins that have been made to target part of the immune system. Biosimilars are designed to be similar, near identical copies of other already approved biological therapies also known as the reference product or originator biologic. They are drugs that act just like the originator product, having the same effectiveness and safety in the patient population that it treats.
Biosimilars are also taken in the same form as the originator product (example, by injection or intravenous infusion). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved biosimilars for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Foundation's Biosimilars Position Statement
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation advocates on behalf of the 1 in 100 Americans who are affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The Foundation believes that treatment decisions should be shared between the healthcare provider and the patient. You can find our current biosimilars position statement.
Biosimilar Education
Learn how biosimilars are used in the practice of gastroenterology in the US. As new therapies evolve, including biosimilars, it’s important for clinicians, patients, and caregivers to understand the similarities, differences, and potential risks and benefits of these therapies.
IBD and Biosimilars: What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know is an activity that is supported by independent educational grants from Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Coherus, Johnson and Johnson, Innovative Medicine, Organon, and Sandoz.
APP Biosimilar Education Video Series
This series is designed to give advanced practice providers a better understanding of biosimilars as treatment options and how to discuss these options with patients. In this four-module series, APPs will learn how to introduce biosimilars to their patients, discuss initiation of a biologic/biosimilar, answer questions on efficacy compared to their originator drugs and discuss an insurance mandated switch.
- Module 1: Introduction: Talking to Patients About Biosimilars
- Module 2: New Starts with a Biosimilar
- Module 3: Are Biosimilars as Effective as Originator Biologics
- Module 4: Insurer-mandated Switching and How to Effectively Communicate with Patients
This program was made possible in part by: Boehringer Ingelheim
Resources you can share with Patients
Your patients will need to be as informed as possible about biosimilars so that they can work with you to advocate for their healthcare needs. Below are important educational resources you can share with patients.
- What Are Biosimilars? Handout
- Biosimilars education page for patients
- Biosimilars information for Consumers -- FDA