On April 12th, in Geneva, Switzerland, ASBM President Doug Badger and Advisory Board Chair Philip Schneider, MS, FASHP presented to the World Health Organization as part of its 62nd International Nonproprietary Name (INN) Consultation. The subject of the Consultation is the continued development of the INN Programme’s Biologic Qualifier (BQ) proposal.
Badger and Schneider reiterated ASBM’s support for the WHO BQ proposal and offered to continue educating regulators, providers and patients worldwide on the importance of and need for a global naming policy for biological products including biosimilars. Mr. Badger shared ASBM data from physician surveys in 11 countries that demonstrate strong support for distinguishable names for biologics and Dr. Schneider shared pharmacist survey data gathered through formal surveys and from continuing education (CE) coursework with pharmacists that demonstrate the same.
Both committed to honoring the WHO’s request to refrain from discussing details about the meeting until the Executive Summary is made available to the public in the coming months.
Update: The Executive Summary from the 62nd INN Consultation may be viewed here, and ASBM’s presentation from that meeting may be viewed here.
