“Biosimilar Insulin Treatment: What the Science Says”

Approximately 7 million Americans use insulin to control their diabetes, yet many
people find it prohibitively expensive. Those with lesser incomes or high-deductible
health plans should be aware of this in particular. according to the Journal of the
American Medical Association, 55% of persons who use insulin spend more than $50 a
month on medication, among those with employer-based health insurance. Some
people pay up to $400 a month out of pocket or more. Up to one in four insulin users cut
back on their dosage to save money. Serious health issues or even death could result
from this.

Insulin is a current medication, and both generic and biosimilar versions of it. But
there is a significant distinction. Unlike biosimilar pharmaceuticals, which are produced
via a more sophisticated manufacturing method, generic medications contain chemical
structures that are well-defined and simple to replicate. As a result, the FDA created an
approval process that considers the distinctiveness of these goods. Biosimilar insulin is
a novel class of biopharmaceutical drug that has been developed to improve patient
accessibility and treatment affordability for diabetes. In contrast to generic
pharmaceuticals, which are perfect duplicates of the original active ingredient,
biosimilars have been found to be efficacious while differing slightly in terms of
pharmacokinetic features from their reference products.

I chose this article because, as a future registered nurse, it occurred to me that

diabetic patients who are unable to afford for their medications owing to financial
restraints still have hope. I will continue to speak up for my patients in the future, and
part of that will be researching at less-expensive alternatives to branded drugs that are
just clinically proven as effective. Patients will benefit from having to spend less on
costly medications, which will improve their overall health and quality of life. Also, I have
the privilege of being knowledgeable about this matter, which enables me to share this
excellent information with my diabetes patients.

I will thus also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of biosimilar insulin so that
they will be aware of what they are about to consume. Thus, it is essential to make sure
that patients receive the proper insulin therapy in order to avoid major problems. If I
lack of information regarding the proper use of insulin may result in medication errors
and patient harm. This demonstrates the importance of providing and customizing
insulin education to a wide range of professional groups in order to promote the safe
use of insulin. Biosimilar insulins can lower healthcare costs without compromising a
person's capacity to function because they are less expensive than traditional brand-
name insulins. As a result, diabetics can effectively manage their blood sugar levels
while spending less on annual medical expenses.

The Philippines has four varieties of biosimilar insulin available under the brands
Insuget, Lupinsulin, Scilin, and Wosulin, according to a cross-sectional evaluation of the
use of biosimilar insulin in Asia by the Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation Program. The fact
that biosimilar insulin is an alternative therapy choice is one of its benefits for those with
diabetes mellitus who are unable to consume the original brand-name drugs because
they have expired or been discontinued. When there are no contraindications,
biosimilars can be used in place of the original brand-name drugs because their efficacy
and safety profiles are the same. The introduction of biosimilar insulins may lead to
lower insulin costs and more accessibility for diabetics around the world. These,
however, are the disadvantages of biosimilar insulin. Concerns about the effectiveness
and safety of these new drugs have been expressed by regulatory organizations and
medical professionals. Although the European regulatory bodies have set standards for
biosimilar insulins' market authorization, several problems still need to be overcome.
Additionally, although the FDA has created preliminary paths for the development of
biosimilar proteins and is ready to evaluate each application on a case-by-case basis,
insulins do not currently fit within this pathway.

Choksi, P. M. D. (2022). Biosimilar Insulin Treatment: What the Science Says.

Endocrine Society. Retrieved February 22, 2023, from
https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/hormone-headlines-blog/biosimilar-
insulin-treatment