BPCIA, 4-Letter Suffix Rule, & the Challenges of Biosimilar Prescription

In this episode, CancerNetwork spoke with 2 experts on the topic of biosimilars, Howard Hochster, MD, FACP, Associate Director for Clinical Research at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the Rutgers School of Medicine, and Michael Kane, RPh, BCOP, Executive Director of Oncology Pharmacy Services for RWJBarnabas Health and Director of Pharmacy Services and the Research Pharmacy at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The episode dives into the background of biosimilars, including the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) passed by the United States Congress in 2009 and subsequent 4-letter suffix rule used to identify biologics products without confusion. The conversation also analyzed some of the unintended consequences of these actions regarding biosimilars, and what Hochster and Kane would do to improve the system that’s currently in place.