By Kathy Feegal

Dr. Richard Dolinar, the Alliance’s chairman, was a keynote speaker at a biosimilars roundtable discussion in Boston, MA on October 5, 2011. The event was hosted by Northeastern University and was attended by numerous stakeholders from across New England, including the Massachusetts Medical Society, and patients groups such as the National Kidney Foundation; American Cancer Society; AIDS Action; as well as elected officials and policymakers from the state legislature.

Dr. Dolinar’s remarks provided the audience with a comprehensive overview of biosimilars. From detailing the federal law that provides for a US biosimilars pathway – to complexities of biotechnology manufacturing and potential safety concerns – Dolinar’s presentation covered a number of key issues of concern to the advocates gathered to learn about this emerging public health and policy issue.

Joining Dr. Dolinar on the speaker panel were representatives from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council; the Arthritis Foundation; as well as Professor Graham Jones, PhD, chair, chemistry department, Northeastern University and Thomas Felix, MD, director of scientific affairs at Amgen.

The Boston discussion was one of a series of biosimilar policy forums held across the country, including events in Chicago and Philadelphia.

Participants in the Forum included:

• Richard Dolinar, MD, Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines
• Graham Jones, PhD, Northeastern Univeristy
• Thomas Felix, MD, Amgen
• Massachusetts Biotechnology Council
• Arthritis Foundation