Biosimilars drugs

The Biosimilars Initiative is an evidence-informed strategy launched in 2021 to better optimize our public resources, get the best value for new treatments and services and improve access to medications for patients. 

Biologic drugs represent some of the largest drug expenditures for the New Brunswick Drug Plans. Increasing the use of biosimilars will make the New Brunswick Drug Plans more sustainable, expand coverage for new treatments and improve patient access to more medications. 

Patients who use certain originator biologics must switch to a biosimilar brand to maintain their coverage under the New Brunswick Drug Plans. The drugs included under this policy and the date by which patients must switch to a biosimilar brand are in the table below. Additional brand biologics will be added when their biosimilar versions are listed as benefits.

Biologics are drugs made from living cells through a complex manufacturing process. The first version of a biologic drug is called an originator biologic drug but may also be called an innovator, reference or brand biologic. They are used to treat many different conditions including diabetes, autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease. 

A biosimilar is a biologic drug that is very similar to but less expensive than its originator biologic drug. There are no expected differences in efficacy and safety between a biosimilar and the originator biologic drug. 

Due to the complexity of the manufacturing process, no two batches of biologics are identical. This means there are differences between different batches of the originator biologics, as well as between originator biologics and biosimilars. These variations do not affect the drug’s effectiveness. 

Health Canada reviews and approves all drugs before they can be sold in Canada, both biologic and biosimilar drugs. When the patent for an originator biologic expires, other manufacturers may produce biosimilars.

There are more than 100 research studies on biosimilars in rheumatology, gastroenterology, dermatology and other diseases, which collectively show little to no clinical differences between biosimilars and their biologic originators, either when used with treatment-naïve patients or for patients switching to a biosimilar. The majority of switching studies also found that efficacy loss associated with switching to biosimilars was the same as is expected for patients who remain on the originator drug. 

If you are using a biologic that is included in the policy, make an appointment with your prescriber before the coverage end date specified in the table above to maintain continued coverage by the New Brunswick Drug Plans. Your prescriber can explain the switching process, discuss your biosimilar options and write you a new prescription.  

Prescribers may request a list of their patients who are using a biologic that is included in the initiative by submitting the Patient List Request Form (PDF 540 KB).