Treating Ulcerative Colitis, and Enjoying a Slice or Two

Wednesday March 23, 2022

Greg, 37, of Los Angeles, CA., spends most of his time hiking, running and lifting weights, but his greatest passion in life is pizza. Not long ago, he made a bet with his wife that he could eat pizza and nothing but pizza for 45 days. As if that weren’t unusual enough, you should know that Greg has a history of ulcerative colitis.

Steroids were not controlling his condition, so his gastroenterologist put him on a biologic medication. After a while, his insurance plan recommended switching to a biosimilar—a safe, effective alternative to a brand-name biologic. “My doctor was on board,” recalls Greg. “I trust my doctor, so I switched to the biosimilar and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.”

“Given the complexity of drug design,” the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation informs patients, “biosimilars cannot be exact copies of biologic therapies, but still contain the same active ingredient, mechanism of action (how they work) and dosing…. Biosimilars are just as safe and effective as the original biologic therapy. There are no clinically meaningful differences.”

How did the bet go? To find out, you’ll have to read The Great Pizza Experiment: How I Ate Nothing but Pizza for Forty-Five Days and Lost Weight, and Other Stories.

To read other inspiring stories like Greg’s, check out the latest Voices of Access report.

Share Your Voice:

As we continue to advocate for accessible biosimilars, we will rely more than ever on the voices of real patients. We invite you to share your story on what biosimilar medicines mean to you and urge you to subscribe for advocacy alerts.


About the Biosimilars Council

The Biosimilars Council, a division of the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM), works to ensure a positive environment for patient access to biosimilar medicines. The Biosimilars Council is a leading source for information about the safety and efficacy of more affordable alternatives to costly brand biologic medicines. Areas of focus include public and health expert education, strategic partnerships, government affairs, legal affairs and regulatory policy. More information is available on our about page.

About AAM

AAM is driven by the belief that access to safe, quality, effective medicine has a tremendous impact on a person’s life and the world around them. Generic and biosimilar medicines improve people’s lives, improving society and the economy in turn. AAM represents the manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars, manufacturers and distributors of bulk pharmaceutical chemicals, and suppliers of other goods and services to the generic industry. Generic pharmaceuticals are 90 percent of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. but only 20 percent of total drug spending.

Stay Informed About Key Industry Issues

 


Let’s Connect

The Council is involved in a number of events that focus on advancing biosimilars in the United States. Click on one below to learn more:

 

 

February 3–5, 2024 | Amelia Island, MD

Access! 2025 will bring together policymakers, influential speakers and industry leaders to chart the future of generic and biosimilar medicines. Discussions center around the business, breakthroughs and politics that shape our industry. Register now