Washington State Wire – Op/Ed – Biosimilar Drugs Require More Transparent Communication Between Patient and Pharmacist: SB 5935 Needs Work
7/
10
Washington State Wire – Op/Ed – Biosimilar Drugs Require More Transparent Communication Between Patient and Pharmacist: SB 5935 Needs Work
Very recently during the 64th Legislature in the State of Washington, House Bill 1675 was introduced relating to the prescription of biological products and interchangeable biological products.
The bill addressed the process through which a biosimilar that has been given ‘interchangeable’ status by the FDA can be substituted for the innovator biologic it mimics. The bill specifically detailed the communication requirements that must occur between a pharmacist and physician. The bill also called for the requirement of signage in a pharmacy that will inform a patient about the potential of substitution with explicit permission from their doctor. This topic is of heightened importance on the state level as the FDA gets ready to start approving biosimilar medications for use, nationally.