Home > Formulary : Adult > Formulary Process and Paperwork >
Biosimilars
The BNSSG Joint Formulary adopts the NHS England position statement on biosimilar medicines that states:
Definition of a biosimilar medicine
A biosimilar medicine is a biological medicine which has been shown not to have any clinically meaningful differences from the originator medicine in terms of quality, safety and efficacy. Where NICE has already recommended the originator biological medicine, the same guidance will normally apply to a biosimilar of that originator.
In addition, the MHRA guidance on the licensing of biosimilars is also adopted that states:
Once authorised, a biosimilar product is considered to be interchangeable with their reference product, which means a prescriber can choose the biosimilar over the reference product (or vice versa) and expect to achieve the same therapeutic effect. A biosimilar product is also considered to be interchangeable with another biosimilar to the same reference product”. The guidance further explains that “as a result of interchangeability, switching patients from one product to another (reference product or biosimilar) has become an acceptable clinical practice”.