On April 22nd, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed SB 4, making Oklahoma the 50th and final state to enact a law permitting biosimilar substitution. SB 4, like similar legislation in other states, permits interchangeable biosimilars to be substituted at the pharmacy level once approved by the FDA. Patients and physicians must be informed of a […]
As of February 2021, two Canadian provinces, British Columbia and Alberta, have implemented or partially implemented forced biosimilar non-medical switching policies. The controversial policies drew strong objections from many in the GI patient and physician community. In a 2017 survey, more than 2/3 of Canadian physicians surveyed said they were not comfortable with a third-party switching their patient […]
On January 28, the Susan G. Komen Foundation released an episode of their podcast “Real Pink” entitled “The Evolution of Biosimilars as a Cancer Treatment” featuring Andrew Spiegel. Mr. Spiegel is Executive Director of the Global Colon Cancer Association and a founding member of ASBM. In the podcast, Spiegel explains how biologic medicines have extended the life expectancy […]
On January 19th, ASBM submitted comments on Draft Guidance issued November 19, 2020 by the FDA entitled “Biosimilarity and Interchangeability: Additional Draft Q&As on Biosimilar Development and the BPCI Act” The document offers insights into how FDA will handle certain aspects of submissions and labeling for interchangeable biosimilars. These include how an applicant may seek FDA review for […]
According to the editors of the Journal of the Generics and Biosimilar Initiative (GaBI Journal), the most-viewed biosimilars article of 2020 was the whitepaper “Policy recommendations for a sustainable biosimilars market: lessons from Europe”, co-authored by ASBM’s Executive Director Michael Reilly and Advisory Board Chair Philip Schneider. The article was published online in February 2020 and in […]
On April 23rd, President Biden signed into law S. 164, the “Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act of 2021,” which authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to educate consumers and health care providers on biologic products, including biosimilars. In March, the US Senate unanimously passed the bill, which directs the FDA to improve education on biosimilars with […]
On April 22nd, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed SB 4, making Oklahoma the 50th and final state to enact a law permitting biosimilar substitution. SB 4, like similar legislation in other states, permits interchangeable biosimilars to be substituted at the pharmacy level once approved by the FDA. Patients and physicians must be informed of a […]
On April 13th, ASBM presented to the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) 72nd Consultation on International Nonproprietary Names (INN) for Pharmaceutical Substances, held in Geneva, Switzerland. This was the sixteenth INN Consultation at which ASBM has presented. ASBM was represented by Executive Director Michael Reilly, Esq., and Advisory Board Chair Philip Schneider, MS, FASHP. Due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions […]
From March 29-April 1st, ASBM will be participating in the Festival of Biologics USA, part of the World Biosimilar Congress USA 2021. The event is typically held in San Diego, CA but will be held virtually this year due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the event, ASBM Steering Committee Member Andrew Spiegel […]
On January 28, the Susan G. Komen Foundation released an episode of their podcast “Real Pink” entitled “The Evolution of Biosimilars as a Cancer Treatment” featuring Andrew Spiegel. Mr. Spiegel is Executive Director of the Global Colon Cancer Association and a founding member of ASBM. In the podcast, Spiegel explains how biologic medicines have extended the life expectancy […]
On January 19th, ASBM submitted comments on Draft Guidance issued November 19, 2020 by the FDA entitled “Biosimilarity and Interchangeability: Additional Draft Q&As on Biosimilar Development and the BPCI Act” The document offers insights into how FDA will handle certain aspects of submissions and labeling for interchangeable biosimilars. These include how an applicant may seek FDA review for […]
Biologic medicines are used to treat millions of patients with serious illnesses like cancer, arthritis, and psoriasis. The patents for many biologic therapies are expiring over the coming years, and biosimilars will be entering the marketplace. Regulatory authorities around the world have put policies in place to ensure that biosimilars have been appropriately tested, and are safe and effective for patients.
The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines is an organization composed of diverse healthcare groups and individuals—from patients to physicians, biotechnology companies that develop innovative and biosimilar medicines and others who are working together to ensure patient safety is at the forefront of the biosimilars policy discussion.
