California Assembly Passes Bill on Biosimilar Drug Use
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Pharmaceutical makers won approval from the California Assembly to restrict generic versions of drugs isolated from natural sources, such as vaccines, known as biosimilars, once they become available in the U.S.
The bill passed yesterday would require pharmacies to notify doctors and sometimes patients when a cheaper biosimilar drug is substituted for a brand-name medicine. It also would forbid a pharmacist from substituting the biosimilar drug if the physician says no.