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On January 19th, ASBM submitted comments on Draft Guidance issued November 19, 2020 by the FDA entitled “Biosimilarity and Interchangeability: Additional Draft Q&As on Biosimilar Development and the BPCI Act” The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 December 17th, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rianbi (rituximab-arrx). Rianbi (rituximab-arrx) is manufactured by Amgen and the third FDA-approved biosimilar to Genentech’s Rituxan (rituximab). It is the third biosimilar FDA has approved in 2020 and the 29th approved in the past 5 years. Read more about the successes FDA’s of the biosimilar program here. […]
On December 9th, ASBM Advisory Board Chair Philip Schneider presented virtually to the Saudi Society for Rheumatology. The presentation was carried live to gatherings of rheumatologists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Kuwait City, Kuwait; and Baghdad, Iraq. Entitled “Lessons from European Biosimilar Markets”, the presentation was based on the whitepaper “Policy recommendations for a sustainable biosimilars market: lessons […]
On November 22nd and 29th, ASBM Executive Director Michael Reilly and Advisory Board Chair Philip Schneider presented to the Saudi Gastroenterology Association. The 45-minute presentation was livestreamed to gatherings of several hundred gastroenterologists in the three largest cities in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Entitled “Lessons from European Biosimilar Markets”, the presentation was based on […]
On November 18, the Biologic Prescribers Collaborative, along with the Institute for Patient Access and the Alliance for Patient Access hosted its fifth annual National Policy & Virtual Summit on Biologics. As part of the Summit, ASBM Chair Madelaine Feldman, MD, FACR, was interviewed by AfPA’s Gavin Clingham about ASBM’s new whitepaper “US Biosimilars Market on Pace with Europe”; published […]
On October 28th, ASBM launched a new microsite focused on the issue of forced biosimilar substitution in Canada- the forcing of patients off their physician-prescribed biologics and onto preferred government-chosen products. www.NoForcedSwitching.ca This controversial practice is rare among the advanced countries of the world, and has raised concerns among patient and physician organizations worldwide. […]
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 […]
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 December 17th, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rianbi (rituximab-arrx). Rianbi (rituximab-arrx) is manufactured by Amgen and the third FDA-approved biosimilar to Genentech’s Rituxan (rituximab). It is the third biosimilar FDA has approved in 2020 and the 29th approved in the past 5 years. Read more about the successes FDA’s of the biosimilar program here. […]
On December 9th, ASBM Advisory Board Chair Philip Schneider presented virtually to the Saudi Society for Rheumatology. The presentation was carried live to gatherings of rheumatologists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Kuwait City, Kuwait; and Baghdad, Iraq. Entitled “Lessons from European Biosimilar Markets”, the presentation was based on the whitepaper “Policy recommendations for a sustainable biosimilars market: lessons […]
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.
