Canada – Page 4 – Safe Biologics

Patients, Physicians Raise Concerns with BC Biosimilar Non-Medical Switching Policy

June 6, 2019

ARLINGTON, Va., June 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — On May 27th, the Government of British Columbia (B.C.) announced a policy that will forcibly switch thousands of patients with serious, chronic conditions from their current biologic medicines to lower-cost “biosimilar” treatments, effective November 25th, 2019. The roughly 23,000 patients who will be affected include those with rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, […]

ASBM Meets with Health Canada, FDA, WHO on Biologic Nomenclature Harmonization

March 7, 2019

On March 6th in Ottawa, Ontario, ASBM hosted the third in a series of meetings between health regulators and other stakeholders from around the globe to discuss the international harmonization of biologic nomenclature and the importance of distinguishable naming. Representatives from Health Canada, the FDA, and WHO participated. The meeting began with opening remarks by ASBM Executive Director Michael Reilly […]

Canadian Biosimilar Working Group Launches Website

September 14, 2018

The Biosimilar Working Group, a Canadian-based coalition of non-profit organizations, registered health charities, and health care advocacy coalitions, launched its website this month. The launch was announced in conjunction with the Group’s September meeting in Toronto, ON. The Biosimilars Working Group is dedicated to ensuring that good outcomes for patients are at the centre of health […]

Canadian Biosimilar Working Group Launches Website

September 14, 2018

The Biosimilar Working Group, a Canadian-based coalition of non-profit organizations, registered health charities, and health care advocacy coalitions, launched its website this month. The launch was announced in conjunction with the Group’s September meeting in Toronto, ON. The Biosimilars Working Group is dedicated to ensuring that good outcomes for patients are at the centre of health […]

ASBM Hosts Naming Roundtable With WHO, FDA, Health Canada

July 13, 2018

On July 12, in Washington, DC the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) hosted the second in a series of meetings to discuss the global harmonization of nomenclature for biologic and biosimilar medicines. Representatives from the World Health Organization, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health Canada, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), and the American […]

ASBM Hosts Forum on International Naming Harmonization

April 12, 2018

On April 11th in Washington DC, nearly 25 individuals gathered to be part of an exclusive roundtable to discuss a global approach for naming harmonization of biologic medicines. Representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, physician and pharmacist associations, and patient advocacy organizations convened to explore the feasibility of this endeavor and […]

ASBM Hosts Forum on International Naming Harmonization

April 12, 2018

On April 11th in Washington DC, nearly 25 individuals gathered to be part of an exclusive roundtable to discuss a global approach for naming harmonization of biologic medicines. Representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, physician and pharmacist associations, and patient advocacy organizations convened to explore the feasibility of this endeavor and […]

ASBM Submits Comments to Health Canada on Naming

February 10, 2018

On January 18, 2018, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada (ISMP Canada) posted an online questionnaire to seek input from healthcare providers, consumers, and other interested and affected stakeholders on different approaches to the naming of biologic drugs, including biosimilars, in Canada. ASBM submitted comments on February 9th advocating the use of 4-letter suffixes, an approach favored […]

ASBM Executive Director’s Op-ed Published in Vancouver Sun

December 25, 2017

On December 25th, the Vancouver Sun published an op-ed authored by ASBM Executive Director, Michael Reilly, regarding the topic of Non-Medical Switching of biosimilars. Non-Medical Switching is when a biosimilar is substituted by a third party in place of the biologic medicine prescribed by the physician, for reasons other than the patient’s health or safety. In the […]

ASBM Executive Director’s Op-ed Published in Vancouver Sun

December 25, 2017

On December 25th, the Vancouver Sun published an op-ed authored by ASBM Executive Director, Michael Reilly, regarding the topic of Non-Medical Switching of biosimilars. Non-Medical Switching is when a biosimilar is substituted by a third party in place of the biologic medicine prescribed by the physician, for reasons other than the patient’s health or safety. In the […]