b'wipe out all the B-cells, leaving a greater chance of infection. Currently, there are studies being conducted using BTKis to aid in the treatment of relapsing, primary progressive, and secondary progressive MS.Biosimilars(Adapted from an article by Gay Falkowski for MS Focus Magazine) Many MS treatments are classed as biologicsmedications made from a living source. These are more complex to create than medications that are made from a chemical recipe. When a patent on a biologic expires, biosimilars may come to market. The FDA allows for biosimilars to increase access to these vital treatments. Heres what you need to know about biosimilars. Are biosimilars identical to their reference products (brand names)?Biosimilar means the biological product is highly similar to the reference product and there are no clinically meaningful differences between the biosimilar product and the reference product in terms of effectiveness, safety, purity, and potency. The biosimilar may contain minor differences in clinically inactive components.What is an interchangeable product? Not all biosimilars are classed as interchangeable with the brand name product. If a product has been determined to be interchangeable, then it has been shown to produce the same clinical result as the reference product in any given patient. Interchangeable also means the original biologic and the new biosimilar can be switched back and forth in patients without a risk of diminished safety or efficacy. This change happens at the pharmacy level, and consultation with your doctor about the change is not required. This can pose challenges for individuals who have copay assistance through the brand manufacturer, have allergies to inactive ingredients, or those who are presented with a new and unfamiliar autoinjector device. Do biosimilars offer as much savings as generics?Like generics, biosimilars take a shortened pathway to approval by the FDA. Still, the approval pathway for biosimilars takes about eight years compared to about two years for generics. Biosimilars typically launch at 15 to 35 percent off the list price of the brand name drug. Generics typically reduce list prices by about 60 to 90 percent. Moreover, biosimilars may or may not offer the patient assistance and copay assistance programs available through the brand name manufacturer.How can I nd out if biosimilars become available for any of my prescription drugs? Ask your healthcare team to let you know you know when a biosimilar becomes available for your condition. Medication change is an important topic; you and your doctor will want to discuss the pros and cons before making a decision. Watch Generics vs Biosimilars vs Bioequivalants: What does it all Mean? By MS Focus senior medical advisor Dr. Ben Thrower at msfocus.us/biologics. 11'