Reports: Florida House subcommittee approves biosimilar-substitution bill

NEW YORK — A new bill in Florida's state legislature would allow pharmacists to substitute biosimilars for branded biotech drugs, according to published reports.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported that the Health Quality Subcommittee of the Florida House of Representatives approved a bill that would allow for substitution while requiring pharmacists to notify prescribing physicians within five days and require the doctor and pharmacist to maintain a record for at least four years.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act included a regulatory approval pathway for biosimilars, though the Food and Drug Administration has yet to finalize regulations for them.

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