Thin U.S. biosimilars market fuels proposals to regulate biologics prices

Frustration over the failure of biosimilars to slash the costs of decades-old biologics has prompted a group of policy analysts to suggest abandoning attempts to copy biologics. Because the sole purpose of biosimilars is to reduce prices, they suggest regulating the prices of biologics that have lost exclusivity rather than spending over $150 million to develop a single biosimilar.

The proposal, published in Health Affairs, is attracting attention, including pushback from former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb and from manufacturers who say it is too early to give up on biosimilars...