The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it will relax certain rules for approving low-cost versions of some high-priced medications, in an effort to speed up access to cheaper alternatives.
The decision affects biosimilars -- medicines that are near-identical copies of biologic drugs made from living cells.
These drugs are similar to generics but more complex to produce. They're often used to treat serious conditions like cancer, diabetes and autoimmune diseases.
Several top-selling brand-name drugs already have biosimilar versions, including Herceptin for breast cancer, Lantus for insulin and Humira for arthritis and other autoimmune disorders.
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