Breaking Down Biosimilars

Global Healthy Living Foundation•ghlf.org

Education

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A podcast that sheds light on biosimilars and helps you better understand the role they play in your healthcare, now and in the future. The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Zoe Rothblatt and Conner Mertens, both Patient Advocates and Community Outreach Managers at GHLF.

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Episodes

How Similar Are Biosimilars to Biologics? Part I

New biosimilars are coming to market and there is a lot of confusion among patients about what this will mean for their treatment plan. We called on patient advocates Cristina Montoya and Lene Andersen to hear directly about their experience on a biologic and biosimilar, respectively. In this first of a two-part episode, Cristina discusses starting a biosimilar and Lene shares about her experience on a biologic. We learn about the types of questions and concerns that go into treatment decisions,...

Oct 17, 2022•23 min

How Similar Are Biosimilars to Biologics? Part II

Through conversations with patient advocates Cristina Montoya and Lene Andersen, we learn that many of the emotions and discussions around starting (and staying on) a treatment are in fact the same for biosimilars and biologics. In the second of a two-part episode, Cristina and Lene discuss that feeling when you know your treatment is working, the possibility of adjusting medications, and ultimately, if they feel more comfortable with biosimilars. “One of the things that can be such a joyful par...

Oct 17, 2022•20 min

Ep 3- Getting Comfortable with Biosimilars

Many patients have questions and may be reluctant to make the switch to biosimilars at first. In this episode, hosts Zoe Rothblatt and Conner Mertens talk to a few patients about their experiences starting a biosimilar. They discuss some of the hurdles they face, like overcoming hesitancy, getting insurance coverage, and setting up delivery with a specialty pharmacy. “After having a conversation with my rheumatologist, she explained that the biosimilar that I would be taking is very, very simila...

Dec 15, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Ep 2- How Are Biosimilars Approved?

Biosimilar medications must still win approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In this episode, co-hosts Zoe Rothblatt and Conner Mertens explore that approval process, and explain the unique naming convention the FDA came up with for biosimilars. “They were really, really driven to understand how their naming convention was being used. And I think that’s pretty admirable, that it’s not just that you’re putting out this standard and saying, ‘This is the standard and you have to follow ...

Dec 15, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Ep 4- Patients Make the Switch

In this episode, Zoe and Conner check in with several patients who’ve made the switch to a biosimilar to find out how they’re doing. Some patients taking a biosimilar have to travel to an infusion site to receive their medication, while others inject their medication at home. In those cases, biosimilars can only be processed and delivered through specialty pharmacies. We hear how several people are handling the adjustment. "I actually enjoy my infusion day. The best thing to do is call this ‘me ...

Dec 15, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Ep 5- The Price and Hoops to Saving Money

When biosimilars were introduced into the US, there was much talk about how much money they could potentially save patients. Getting a biosimilar developed and approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is not as rigorous or time-consuming as for a biologic … which was touted as being more economical. And insurance companies were supposed to pass along savings to consumers. In this episode, Zoe and Conner look at why that hasn’t happened to any large degree, and what can be done abo...

Dec 15, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Ep 6- Dispelling Myths About Biosimilars

Biosimilars were first introduced into the US market about six years ago, but getting the all-important “patient buy-in” has been a slow process. Many patients are reluctant to switch to a biosimilar if they’re already happy taking a biologic. But another reason is the proliferation of myths and misinformation about biosimilars, which can be difficult to counteract. In this episode, Zoe and Conner talk to a few medical professionals about the most common biosimilar falsehoods, and what can be do...

Dec 15, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Ep 7- The Future of Biosimilars

The introduction of biosimilars in the US has been hampered by unrealized cost savings, myths and misinformation, and patient hesitancy. Still, many medical professionals see much to be optimistic about in the next few years. New biosimilars will soon be approved for the US market, and expectations are that costs will begin to come down as a result. In this episode, Zoe and Conner discuss some of the good news about biosimilars. “I think what we’re seeing now is a critical mass. And I think that...

Dec 15, 2021•7 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Ep 1- Biosimilars 101

Biosimilar medications were introduced into the US market in 2015, but they’re still relatively unfamiliar to many people. In our first episode, co-hosts Zoe Rothblatt and Conner Mertens provide an overview of biosimilars – what they are, how they can help with certain medical conditions, and the main differences between biosimilars, biologics and generic medications. “If we have a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and they take the original biologic or the biosimilar, their rheumatoid arthritis...

Dec 15, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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