November 5, 2017
On November 2nd, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule for the 2018 Physician Fee Schedule, which governs reimbursement rates for physicians. In a significant development, beginning in 2018 CMS will update payment for biosimilars. Under the previous rule finalized in 2015 under the Obama Administration, all of the biosimilars sharing one reference […]
October 17, 2017
For Immediate Release ~National survey reveals physician attitudes on key policy issues related to originator biologics and biosimilars ~ Ottawa, Ontario (November 22, 2017) A new national survey conducted by the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) found that Canadian physicians overwhelmingly support distinguishable names for all biologics, including biosimilars. Survey results also […]
September 12, 2017
On July 28th, 2017 the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced that it was seeking comments from interested parties on the nomenclature for biologic medicines, including biosimilars. In a comment letter dated September 7th, ASBM responded, advocating for distinct naming of all biologics and biosimilars, and urging the TGA to adopt the World Health Organization’s […]
September 7, 2017
ARLINGTON, VA- In a meeting today, the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) introduced rheumatologist Madelaine Feldman, MD, FACR as the organizations incoming chairperson. Dr. Feldman succeeds outgoing chair Harry L. Gewanter, MD, FAAP, FACR, whose 3-year term expired August 31, 2017. Dr. Feldman will be the third chairperson since ASBM was founded in 2010. […]
August 28, 2017
On August 25th, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cyzelto adalimumab-adbm (Cyltezo, Boehringer Ingelheim) for multiple indications. Cyltezo is a biosimilar of AbbVie’s Humira (adalimumab). This is the second FDA-approved biosimilar to Humira; adalimumab-atto (Amjevita, Amgen, Inc) was the first, approved in September 2016. Cyltezo is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker approved for the treatment of adults […]
August 8, 2017
On August 3rd in Melbourne, Australia, ASBM Steering Committee member Andrew Spiegel, Executive Director of the Global Colon Cancer Association, presented a poster at the 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Medical Oncology Group of Australia (MOGA). Nearly 400 Australian medical oncologists gathered for this meeting, themed Real World Oncology: Translating Discovery in to Practice. View the poster […]
July 13, 2017
On July 13th, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) approved the use of two new biosimilar applications. Amgen’s biosimilar application for Genentech/Roche’s Avastin (bevacizumab) was approved by a vote of 17-0 for all indications, which includes metastatic colorectal cancers, non–small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma and cervical cancers. The data package provided […]
July 3, 2017
On June 28th, ASBM Chairman Harry L. Gewanter, MD presented to an audience of 150 at the 8th Latin American Biosimilars Forum in Brasilia, Brazil. In his presentation, entitled “Increasing Physician Confidence in Biosimilars”, Dr. Gewanter discussed barriers to widespread acceptance of biosimilars among physicians. Dr. Gewanter cited the example of Australia, where biosimilar uptake remains […]
June 22, 2017
On June 20th, ASBM Chairman Harry L. Gewanter, MD presented a poster based on ASBM’s survey of Australian biologic prescribers, at the DIA 2017 Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. ASBM exhibited at DIA from June 19th-21st. The survey included 76% of prescribers believed the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) should assign distinct names to all biologics, including […]
June 21, 2017
By Michael S. Reilly, Esq. Executive Director, ASBM If a recent headline describing the biosimilar experience in Europe were to be believed, one would expect that biosimilars have captured a great deal of the biologics marketplace. The headline, “Biosimilars in Europe: 11 years, 28 approvals, 0 safety concerns” suggests these complex medicines are perfectly safe […]
