Biologics and Biosimilars

Traditional pharmaceuticals (small-molecule drugs) are synthesised through chemical processes — aspirin, paracetamol, antibiotics. Biologics, in contrast, are large, complex molecules derived from living cells (bacteria, yeast, mammalian cells) through biotechnology — these include vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, insulin, and gene therapies. Biosimilars are the generic equivalents of biologics: once the original biologic's patent expires, other manufacturers can produce a "highly similar" version (a biosimilar) that has been shown to have no clinically meaningful differences in safety, purity, and potency. Biologics are the fastest-growing segment of the global pharmaceutical market, accounting for ~35% of all drug sales and a disproportionate share of the top-selling drugs globally.