Biotechnology in practice: Call for incorporation of biosimilars into pharmacy education

The rapid development of biotechnology as a means of drug development has drastically changed the landscape of medicine and pharmacy in recent years. Through new biologic agents, some conditions that were previously untreatable or debilitating, such as rheumatoid arthritis or some types of cancer, have now become more manageable, and patients are living longer and are leading higher quality lives as a result. For pharmacists, however, the development and marketing of more complex medications has necessitated an even closer understanding of the science behind these medications. With the passage of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BCPIA) in 2010, this landscape has become more complex through the potential entrance of "biosimilar" agents into the American marketplace. While not exactly identical in structure, biosimilar agents are designed to have highly similar therapeutic function in the body as compared with a reference product. Due to the nature of these agents, however, potential adverse effects and allergenicity can vary among subjects. Pharmacovigilance efforts by pharmacists will serve as a very important part of the process. Given the potential therapeutic benefits (and cost savings) of these agents, pharmacists can serve a key role in improving patient care and maintaining patient safety. Pharmacy educators should lead the way in helping students understand the intricacies and complexities of these agents through incorporation into the pharmaceutical sciences curriculum alongside instruction about small-molecule entities.