September 30, 2021
ASBM Welcomes Ralph McKibbin, MD as Chairman In a Full Member Call September 9th, ASBM introduced gastroenterologist Ralph McKibbin, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF as the organization’s incoming chairman. Dr. McKibbin began his three year term on September 1st, succeeding outgoing chair Madelaine Feldman, MD, FACR. Dr. McKibbin is the fourth chairman since ASBM was […]
September 10, 2021
Minnesota Budget Passes Without Biosimilar Provisions On June 29th, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed his state’s HHS Omnibus budget for 2022-2023. The legislature had considered but ultimately rejected language aimed at boosting uptake of biosimilars – provisions which many patient groups believed might inadvertently increase out-of-pocket costs. Since April, ASBM and other organizations including […]
September 9, 2021
ARLINGTON, VA- In a Full Member Call today the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) introduced gastroenterologist Ralph McKibbin, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF as the organization’s incoming chairman. Dr. McKibbin began his three year term on September 1st, succeeding outgoing chair Madelaine Feldman, MD, FACR. Dr. McKibbin will be the fourth chairman since ASBM was founded in […]
September 2, 2021
ASBM, in conjunction with the Long Island University College of Pharmacy (LIU-Pharmacy), is now offering a comprehensive continuing education course on biosimilars entitled “Biosimilars: What Pharmacists Need to Know”. The second course in the series,”Substitution and Non-Medical Switching” has been updated to include discussion of the July 28 approval of the first interchangeable biosimilar insulin. The course […]
August 22, 2021
On August 22nd, the Journal of the Generics and Biosimilars Journal (GaBI Journal) published a new whitepaper by ASBM Executive Director Michael Reilly and Advisory Board Chair Philip Schneider. The paper is entitled “A Critical Review of Substitution Policy for Biosimilars in Canada” and highlights the stark contrast between the forced-substitution policies recently enacted by some Canadian provinces and the pro-competition […]
July 31, 2021
On July 28th, ASBM sent a letter to Congressional leaders expressing our opposition to H.R.2815, the BIOSIM Act, a bill “to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a temporary payment increase under the Medicare program for certain biosimilar biological products to encourage the development and use of such products.” The bill proposes […]
July 28, 2021
On July 28th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the long-awaited approved of the first interchangeable biosimilar, Mylan’s SemgleeⓇ. Under the Biologic Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) of 2009, which governs U.S. biosimilar development, an interchangeable biosimilar may be substituted in place of its reference product (in this case, Sanofi’s insulin glargine LantusⓇ) at the pharmacy without the […]
July 12, 2021
Bowel Cancer Australia has issued a Patient Alert for Australia’s metastatic cancer patients: beginning on June 1st, 2021, the popular drug Avastin will be withdrawn from Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) meaning it will no longer be available to metastatic bowel cancer patients as a subsidized treatment. Avastin is designed to block a protein called vascular endothelial growth […]
July 12, 2021
On June 15th, the American Medical Association (AMA) passed a resolution opposing the practice of insurers providing financial incentives for patients to switch to a payer-preferred treatment. The resolution was drafted by the American Colloge of Rheumatology (ACR) and passed during the AMA’s June 2021 Special Meeting. The ACR drafted the resolution after learning Cigna was notifying patients […]
July 12, 2021
On June 24th, ASBM Executive Director Michael Reilly presented at the 15th Biosimilars Congregation. The event was organized to provide insight into the current state of play in the EU with respect to biosimilars and stimulate debate, in a multi-stakeholder setting, on the vital role of biosimilar medicines in the sustainability of healthcare systems. It also highlighted […]
