safebiologics – Safe Biologics

Michael Reilly: Congress Should Maintain Current FDA Biosimilars Standards

September 27, 2024

Prioritize Patient Treatment Stability, Physician Confidence Michael ReillySeptember 25, 2024 Biologic medicines have revolutionized the treatment of serious chronic diseases including, arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, and cancer. Nearly 10 years ago, the FDA approved the first “biosimilar” – a copycat medicine highly similar, but not identical to a previously-approved biologic. Biosimilars offer new treatment choices […]

ASBM Submits Comments on FDA Draft Guidance Proposing Eliminating Switching Studies for Interchangable Biosimilars

August 27, 2024

On August 20th, ASBM submitted comments on the FDA draft guidance for industry entitled “Considerations for Demonstrating Interchangeability with a Reference Product: Update”, published June 20th. This draft guidance describes considerations regarding a switching study or studies intended to support a demonstration that a biological product is interchangeable with a reference product. From ASBM’s comments: In addition to the FDA […]

Fact Sheet: Physicians Oppose S.2305 -That Would Make All Biosimilars Interchangeable

August 27, 2024

June-July Newsletter

August 23, 2024

ASBM Whitepaper: Misinformation About Interchangeable Biosimilars Undermines US Health Policy, Physician Confidence, and Patient Health On July 16th, GaBI Journal published a whitepaper authored by ASBM Chairman Ralph McKibbin, MD and Executive Director Michael Reilly, which underscores the critical role of the FDA’s interchangeable biosimilar data requirements in maintaining the safety and efficacy of biosimilar substitutions. Titled “Misinformation about interchangeable […]

Analysis Finds Misinformation About Interchangeable Biosimilars Undermining US Health Policy, Physician Confidence, and Patient Health

July 16, 2024

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2024 – The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) announces the publication of a paper underscoring the critical role of the FDA’s interchangeable biosimilar data requirements in maintaining the safety and efficacy of biosimilar substitutions. Titled “Misinformation about interchangeable biosimilars undermines US health policy, physician confidence, and patient health,” the paper discusses the […]

May 2024 Newsletter

June 7, 2024

ASCO 2024: ASBM Releases Resource Guide for Cancer Patients on IRA’s Impact on R&D, Access From May 31st – June 4th, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) held its Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. ASBM was well represented at the conference, with several member groups were in attendance including the International Cancer Advocacy Network (ICAN), […]

March 2024 Newsletter

May 10, 2024

Biden Administration HHS Budget Would Permit Third-Party Substitution of All Biosimilars On March 11th, the Biden Administration released its FY25 HHS Budget. In response, ASBM Executive Director Michael Reilly published a blog post sharing his concerns with the Administration’s proposal to permit widespread automatic (pharmacy-level) substitution of all biosimilars in place of their reference products; without physician approval […]

February 2024 Newsletter

April 12, 2024

ASBM Joins ICAN, other Patient Advocacy Organizations to Oppose Government Use of “March In Rights” In February, ASBM joined 33 other patient advocacy organizations led by the International Cancer Advocacy Network (ICAN) in a letter to U.S. Congressional leadership, urging them to oppose the use of “march-in rights” to break pharmaceutical patents for drugs developed with […]

Biden Budget Would Allow Automatic Pharmacy Substitution of ALL Biosimilars, Misunderstands US and EU Substitution Policy

April 11, 2024

by Michael Reilly, ASBM Executive Director The Biden Administration’s FY25 Budget, unveiled on March 11, 2024, takes aim at prescription drug costs but misses the mark and hurts rather than helps patients. Again. (Read my concerns with the Administration’s Medicare Part D price-setting system here). This latest proposal would loosen the review criteria for some […]

ASBM Releases Fact Sheet on Emerging Challenges to Interchangeable Biosimilars Policy

February 5, 2024

On January 31st, ASBM released a fact sheet describing a variety of proposed policy changes at the state and federal level which would weaken the interchangeable biosimilar standard, or circumvent the patient protections it provides. These include new bills and regulations at the federal level, as well as state legislation and proposals which threaten to […]