ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Biosimilar

Imagine you have a favorite toy that you play with all the time. But one day, the toy breaks and you need a new one. Your parents take you to the toy store, but your toy is not there anymore. Instead, you see a different toy that looks almost the same as your old one. This new toy is what we call a biosimilar.

Now, let's talk about people instead of toys. Sometimes, people get sick and need medicine to help them feel better. Medicine is made up of chemicals that help our bodies fight the sickness. But making medicine is not always easy or cheap. This is where biosimilars come in.

A biosimilar is a kind of medicine that is similar to another medicine that has already been approved by the government. Just like how the new toy looks almost the same as your old one, a biosimilar medicine looks almost the same as the original medicine. But it is not exactly the same because it is made by a different company.

Before a biosimilar can be sold to people, it needs to be tested to make sure it works just as well as the original medicine. This is called a clinical trial. The government also checks that the biosimilar is safe for people to use.

Biosimilars are important because they can help more people get the medicine they need. They are usually less expensive than the original medicine, which makes it easier for people to afford. It's like if your parents found a new toy that cost less than your old one but still made you just as happy.

So, in summary, a biosimilar is a kind of medicine that is almost the same as another medicine that has already been approved. It needs to be tested to make sure it works and is safe for people to use. Biosimilars can help more people get the medicine they need at a lower cost.