Merck, known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada, has launched Biosimilars Clarified, a new educational website for patients, caregivers and the healthcare community, designed to provide clear, concise and straightforward information about biosimilar medicines.

Biosimilars are a type of biological product that are approved by the FDA because they are highly similar to an already FDA-approved biological product, known as the originator biologic or reference product, and have been shown to have no clinically meaningful differences in terms of the safety, purity and potency of the product.

“Biosimilars can offer alternative treatment options, and have the potential to help reduce healthcare spending and increase access to important biologic medicines,” said Dora Bibila, general manager, Merck Biosimilars. “At Merck, we want to provide educational resources for patients and caregivers to help them get the information they want and need. We believe the more patients know, the more they can be in charge of their health—Biosimilars Clarified is designed to help answer their questions about biosimilars.”

Biosimilars Clarified offers a host of informative features in a simple, easy-to-use question-and-answer format. The website was developed to provide patients, their caregivers, healthcare professionals and others clarification on such topics as:

• What are biologic medicines?
• Biosimilars—are they safe and effective?
• The value of biosimilars and increasing access to treatment.
• The availability of support programs for patients taking biosimilars.

“Merck is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world today, and we have a long-standing commitment to supporting patients and the healthcare community. We are continuing that commitment with Merck Biosimilars,” Bibila said.