Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!

Some very expensive drugs may soon get a lot cheaper

Dan Gorenstein Jan 8, 2015
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Some very expensive drugs may soon get a lot cheaper

Dan Gorenstein Jan 8, 2015
HTML EMBED:
COPY

There’s a good chance some of the most expensive drugs out there may soon get a bit cheaper.

Under provisions in the Affordable Care Act, it’s now easier to get approval for what are called biosimilar drugs. These are drugs that are similar – get it – to biologic, or biologically derived, medications.

Earlier this week, a panel unanimously recommended that the FDA approve the first biosimilar in the U.S. If these copycat drugs pick up steam, Rand predicts savings could reach billions in short order. 

 

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.