INSIGHT

Costs before Caution - Australia's unique approach to the interchangeability of biosimilars

By Ric Morgan
Healthcare

In brief

Recent developments in Australia suggest that there has been a deliberate prioritisation of the cost benefits of facilitating biosimilar interchangeability over the safety and efficacy risks that can arise when biosimilars are used interchangeably.

Whether this policy stance will actually support a sustainable market for biologic medicines is questionable. The response of those trying to bring biosimilars to market in the last year, and in particular when faced with the government's attempts to implement these policies, suggests it may not.

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