US Medical Term · medications
Biosimilar
Biosimilar
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Biosimilar |
| Spanish (Español) | Biosimilar |
| Chinese (中文) | 生物相似藥 |
| Korean (한국어) | 바이오시밀러 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Thuốc sinh học tương tự |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Biosimilar |
| Portuguese (Português) | Biossimilar |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ยาชีววัตถุคล้ายคลึง |
| Japanese (日本語) | バイオシミラー |
What it means
A biosimilar is a medication that is highly similar to an already approved biological drug, called the reference product, with no clinically meaningful differences in safety or effectiveness. Biologics are complex medicines made from living cells, including proteins, antibodies, and hormones used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or inflammatory bowel disease. When a reference biologic's patent expires, other manufacturers can develop biosimilars that are generally less expensive. The FDA reviews biosimilars rigorously. Some biosimilars are designated interchangeable, meaning a pharmacist can substitute the biosimilar for the reference product without a new prescription from your doctor, similar to how generic drugs substitute for brand-name small-molecule drugs.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My pharmacist says there is a biosimilar available that costs less than my current biologic. Is it safe?
Mi farmacéutico dice que hay un biosimilar disponible que cuesta menos que mi biológico actual. ¿Es seguro?
Is this biosimilar FDA-approved as interchangeable with the brand-name product?
¿Este biosimilar está aprobado por la FDA como intercambiable con el producto de marca?
Will switching to a biosimilar affect how well my treatment works?
¿Cambiar a un biosimilar afectará la eficacia de mi tratamiento?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026