November 2016 Newsletter

November 7, 2016

  newsletter | November 2016   issue 53   Who We Are The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines is an organization composed of patients, physicians, pharmacists, biotechnology companies that develop innovative and biosimilar medicines, and others who are working together to ensure that patient safety is at the forefront of the biosimilars policy discussion. It […]

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One of These is Not Like the Other …

November 7, 2016

Harry L. Gewanter, MD, FAAP, FACR Chairman, ASBM   Since becoming involved with ASBM on the Medical Advisory Board and, more recently, as Chairman, I’ve learned a great deal about biosimilars. Being a pediatrician, I have found that analogies are an extraordinarily helpful means to explain complex issues. This video has proven to be an […]

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ASBM Member Testifies in Support of BsUFA Reauthorization

October 20, 2016

On October 20th, representatives from the patient, physician, and pharmacist communities joined manufacturers of innovator biologics and biosimilars to discuss reauthorization of the Biosimilars User Fee Act (BsUFA). BsUFA is a five-year agreement between FDA and stakeholders that finances the FDA’s review of biosimilars through fees paid by biosimilar sponsors. It is set to expire […]

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ASBM Presents to WHO at 63rd INN Meeting

October 19, 2016

On October 18th, in Geneva, Switzerland, ASBM President Doug Badger and Advisory Board Chair Philip Schneider, MS, FASHP participated in the World Health Organization’s 63rd Stakeholder Consultation on International Nonproprietary Names. The subject of the INN meeting is the continued development of the INN Programme’s Biologic Qualifier (BQ) proposal. The is a modification to the INN system designed […]

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ASBM Holds Webinar for Ontario Hospital Assocation

October 12, 2016

On October 12th, in Toronto, Ontario, ASBM participated in an educational webinar for the Ontario Hospital Association, which represents 150 hospitals in the Canadian province. ASBM Executive Director Michael Reilly participated on a panel with Canadian physicians, patients, and industry representatives. Around 100 attendees were present.   Mr. Reilly discussed the state of biosimilar uptake […]

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ASBM Latin American Chapter Joins Biosimilars Forum in Brazil

September 28, 2016

SÁO PAULO, BRAZIL- The Latin American Chapter of the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) and the Global Colon Cancer Association (GCCA) today participated in a biologics and biosimilars forum in Sáo Paulo, Brazil. The chapter is comprised of eight patient organizations representing a variety of disease groups including multiple forms of cancer, hepatitis, and […]

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Why Meaningful, Memorable Biologic Suffixes Are Like Red Light Cameras

September 21, 2016

By Michael Reilly, Executive Director, ASBM To date, the FDA has approved three biosimilars. The first, Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz), used a meaningful, memorable suffix based on the manufacturers name (Sandoz). The second two use the random suffixes “-dyyb” and “-szzs” which mean, well, nothing. ASBM’s surveys have shown that physicians (78%) and pharmacists (85%) support memorable […]

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ASBM Presents at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

September 15, 2016

On September 15th, 2016, ASBM held an educational forum at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USciences). The program drew 50 attendees comprised of pharmacists, faculty members, pharmacy students. The program began with an introduction to biosimilars from USciences Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Dr. Zhiyu Li. Dr. Li is Director of Undergraduate Pharmacology/Toxicology Program, where he […]

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A Picture is worth a thousand words…

September 15, 2016

A Picture is worth a thousand words… Why Memorable Names are preferred by Pharmacists by Philip Schneider, MS FASHP Associate Dean, University of Arizona College of Pharmacy ASBM Advisory Board Chair Yesterday, I was in Philadelphia with a group of about 50 pharmacy students and faculty speaking about biosimilars and the role they do play and […]

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ASBM and MD State Medical Society Host Biosimilars Forum in Baltimore

July 25, 2016

On Friday, July 22nd, The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines and MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society co-hosted a forum entitled “Biosimilars: New Choices, New Challenges”. The event was attended by more than 45 physicians, legislators, patient advocates, healthcare workers, and others. MedChi’s CEO, Gene Ransom III began the forum with a discussion of the importance of biosimilars […]

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