ASBM/IFA Survey: As Ontario Announces Forced Biosimilar Switching, Ophthalmologists Are Latest Specialty to Raise Concerns

Press Release: As Ontario Announces Forced Biosimilar Switching, Ophthalmologists Are Latest Specialty to Raise Concerns 28 February 2023 TORONTO, ONTARIO – Physicians and their patients- and not a government -should choose which biologic medicine to use, according to a new survey of Canadian ophthalmologists by the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) and the International […]

ASBM’s Feldman and Reilly Present at Treatment Choice Summit

On January 31st, ASBM’s Immediate Past Chair Madelaine Feldman, MD, FACR and Executive Director Michael Reilly participated in the 2023 Treatment Choice Summit, held in Washington, DC. Dr. Feldman moderated the first panel discussion, Patient and Provider Perspectives on the Impact of Treatment Choice. The purpose of the discussion was to identify barriers to treatment choice and […]

GaBI Journal Publishes Paper on ASBM US Physician Survey

In December, the Generics and Biosimilar Initiative (GaBI) published a whitepaper entitled “US prescribers’ attitudes and perceptions about biosimilars”, based on the findings from ASBM’s survey of 401 U.S. physicians fielded in late 2021. The paper was authored by ASBM’s Chairman Ralph McKibbin, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF; and Executive Director Michael S. Reilly, Esq. The survey examines […]

ASBM Members: Get Free Access to ASBM/OSU Biosimilars Course

The Ohio State College of Pharmacy has provided ASBM with access codes for our Members who wish to view the first four modules of the ASBM/OSU College of Pharmacy Biosimilars Course at no charge: Biosimilars Module 1: Introduction to Biologics and Biosimilars  (Prof. Philip Schneider, MS FASHP FFIP) Biosimilars Module 2: Substitution and Interchangeability (Prof. Philip Schneider, MS FASHP […]

GaBI Publishes Report on ASBM Webinar on Biosimilar Success Factors

The Generics and Biosimilars Initiative (GaBI) has published a report on the first of two webinars the organization recently co-hosted with ASBM. The report summarizes the presentations from the June 29th webinar which examined “Key Factors for Successful Biosimilar Uptake in Europe, Canada and the US”. View the webinar below: The report also addresses audience questions that were unable to be […]

ASBM Adds Module on PBM Practices to Ohio State University Biosimilars Course

In December, ASBM recorded the seventh and final module in its biosimilar Continuing Education (CE) Course on Biosimilars, presented with the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. The latest module is entitled “PBMs and Payer Practices” and is presented by ASBM’s Immediate Past Chair Madelaine Feldman, MD, FACR. In this module Dr. Feldman explains unique […]

ASBM/Ohio State University Biosimilars CE Course Adds New Module on Patient Perspectives

In October, ASBM recorded the latest entry in its ongoing continuing education (CE) series in partnership with the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. This course module, entitled “Patient Perspectives on Biosimilars”, represents part 6 of the 7-part series covering a wide range of biosimilar policy issues. In this module, participants will hear different perspectives from the […]

More News
ASBM’s Feldman and Reilly Present at Treatment Choice Summit

ASBM’s Feldman and Reilly Present at Treatment Choice Summit

On January 31st, ASBM’s Immediate Past Chair Madelaine Feldman, MD, FACR and Executive Director Michael Reilly participated in the 2023 Treatment Choice Summit, held in Washington, DC. Dr. Feldman moderated the first panel discussion, Patient and Provider Perspectives on the Impact of Treatment Choice. The purpose of the discussion was to identify barriers to treatment choice and […]

Ontario Announces Forced-Substitution Policy

Ontario Announces Forced-Substitution Policy

In December, the Ontario government announced that it would follow other Canadian provinces including British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and require mandatory switching to biosimilars.  a mandatory switching in 2020, but implementation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A nine-month transition period will begin March 31st. From the government’s announcement: Ontarians receiving coverage under the ODB […]

ASBM Members: Get Free Access to ASBM/OSU Biosimilars Course

ASBM Members: Get Free Access to ASBM/OSU Biosimilars Course

The Ohio State College of Pharmacy has provided ASBM with access codes for our Members who wish to view the first four modules of the ASBM/OSU College of Pharmacy Biosimilars Course at no charge: Biosimilars Module 1: Introduction to Biologics and Biosimilars  (Prof. Philip Schneider, MS FASHP FFIP) Biosimilars Module 2: Substitution and Interchangeability (Prof. Philip Schneider, MS FASHP […]

ASBM Adds Module on PBM Practices to Ohio State University Biosimilars Course

ASBM Adds Module on PBM Practices to Ohio State University Biosimilars Course

In December, ASBM recorded the seventh and final module in its biosimilar Continuing Education (CE) Course on Biosimilars, presented with the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. The latest module is entitled “PBMs and Payer Practices” and is presented by ASBM’s Immediate Past Chair Madelaine Feldman, MD, FACR. In this module Dr. Feldman explains unique […]

GaBI Journal Publishes Paper on ASBM US Physician Survey

GaBI Journal Publishes Paper on ASBM US Physician Survey

In December, the Generics and Biosimilar Initiative (GaBI) published a whitepaper entitled “US prescribers’ attitudes and perceptions about biosimilars”, based on the findings from ASBM’s survey of 401 U.S. physicians fielded in late 2021. The paper was authored by ASBM’s Chairman Ralph McKibbin, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF; and Executive Director Michael S. Reilly, Esq. The survey examines […]

GaBI Publishes Report on ASBM Webinar on Biosimilar Success Factors

GaBI Publishes Report on ASBM Webinar on Biosimilar Success Factors

The Generics and Biosimilars Initiative (GaBI) has published a report on the first of two webinars the organization recently co-hosted with ASBM. The report summarizes the presentations from the June 29th webinar which examined “Key Factors for Successful Biosimilar Uptake in Europe, Canada and the US”. View the webinar below: The report also addresses audience questions that were unable to be […]

Biosimilars 101

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, and biosimilars are entering the marketplace. These give patients new treatment options, and reduce costs through competition. 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.

Non-Medical Switching
Non-Medical Switching is when a patient is switched from one biologic medicine (either an originator product or a biosimilar) to another product- not for reasons of health or safety but for economic reasons. This is often done by a third party such as a private insurer, a pharmacy-benefit manager, or a government agency in order to save money, increase profits, or because of a deal made with a particular manufacturer. This practice is controversial among patients and physicians because treatment decisions are not "one size fits all". Many patients try several biologic medicines until they find one that stabilizes their condition; physicians generally oppose the unnecessary switching of medicines for stable patients.

Member Partners

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.

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