FF to pitch cheaper biotech drugs

Billy Kelleher said he intended to lay a private members’ bill

Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on health Pic: RollingNews.ie

Fianna Fáil is to propose legislation aimed at encouraging the use of cheaper biotech drugs known as biosimilars.

Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on health, said he intended to lay a private members’ bill before the Dáil later this year. It is aimed at promoting greater use of biosimilar medicines instead of costly biologic medicines. While ‘generic’ medicines are identical to originator medicines, ‘biosimilars’ are similar but not identical.

The bill would allow ...