Massachusetts biosimilar bill becomes law

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law legislation that will allow pharmacists to substitute biosimilars that FDA has approved as interchangeable with an original biologic unless the prescriber indicates otherwise in writing. The law requires the pharmacist to notify the prescriber and the patient of the substitution. The pharmacist and the prescriber must also maintain records of the substitution for at least one year. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council support the legislation.

Indiana legislation signed into law earlier this year allows pharmacists to substitute interchangeable biosimilars with an original biologic only if the prescriber indicates the biologic may be substituted (see BioCentury Extra, March 26). ...