Merilog a Novolog bio similar by Sanofi has been approved

Medicines Insulin
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So new it isn’t in the Tricare Formulary search tool yet! Something to watch for…

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Thanks for posting. Hopefully my insurance will offer me a lower copay and a financial incentive to switch from Novolog like they did when Basaglar came our as a biosimilar for Lantus, but I’m not holding my breath.

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What are they meaning by “biosimilar”. drugs.com states that basalgar is not a lantus biosimilar, here:

I can’t find a meaningful definition of the word “biosimilar”.

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Generic is exactly the same chemically as the brand name. Biosimilar may be very close but may have some slight differences. The bold in this definition states that.

biosimilar drug

Listen to pronunciation

(BY-oh-SIH-mih-ler …)

A biological drug that is very much like another biological drug (called the reference drug) that has already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Biosimilar drugs and reference drugs are made from living organisms but they may be made in different ways and of slightly different substances. To be called a biosimilar drug, a biological drug must be shown to be as safe as, work as well as, and work in the same way as its reference drug. It must also be used in the same way, at the same dose, and for the same condition as the reference drug. Biosimilar drugs must be approved by FDA, and may cost less than the reference drugs.

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Biosimilars are like generics, but for biologics and not drugs (https://www.fda.gov/drugs/biosimilars/biosimilars-basics-patients). I didn’t realize that Basaglar and Lantus are not technically biosimilars of each other- I think Basaglar was technically a follow-on biologic medication because it was approved by an earlier process. Here’s more on it- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-basaglar-vs-lantus#ingredients
Regardless, it’s the same medication with a different brand name.

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