One of these days, biosimilars will become available in the US. Of course, that depends on when Congress gets around to deciding on how these meds should be approved and regulated. Right now, there are three proposals floating around Congress, which are being fought over, primarily, by generic drugmakers, biotechs, insurers, large employers and consumer groups because the meds usually cost thousands of dollars a month per patient.

Given the dickering over the complexities of the issue and the fact that this is an election year, which is likely to slow congressional movement, the US market is likely to take off slower than other markets, according to Kalorama Information. Nonetheless, the research firm posits that biosimilars will still hit $5.8 billion by 2012 if one bill or another actually becomes law this year.