June 6, 2018
On June 4th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its eleventh biosimilar, Fulphila (pegfilgrastim-jmdb). This is the first biosimilar to Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) and is prescribed to decrease the chance of infection as suggested by febrile neutropenia (fever, often with other signs of infection, associated with an abnormally low number of infection-fighting white blood cells), […]
May 20, 2018
On May 19th, ASBM presented an abstract during the poster session at the World Health Professions Regulation Conference 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland. ASBM’s poster, entitled “How do policymakers realize the cost-savings from biosimilars while maintaining healthcare provider autonomy?” draws from ASBM’s surveys of 1,832 physicians in 12 countries and 401 pharmacists in the U.S. The findings […]
May 18, 2018
On May 1st, ASBM Executive Director, Michael Reilly, Esq. and Advisory Board Chair, Philip Schneider, MS, FASHP; presented before the 66th Consultation on International Nonproprietary Names (INN) for Pharmaceutical Substances in Geneva, Switzerland. This was the tenth INN Consultation at which ASBM has presented since 2013. While the discussions in the Open Session at which ASBM presented are […]
May 15, 2018
On May 15th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its tenth biosimilar, Retacrit (epoetin alfa-epbx) as a biosimilar to Epogen/Procrit (epoetin alfa) for the treatment of anemia caused by chronic kidney disease, chemotherapy, or use of zidovudine in patients with HIV infection. Retacrit is also approved for use before and after surgery to reduce […]
May 15, 2018
On May 15th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its tenth biosimilar, Retacrit (epoetin alfa-epbx) as a biosimilar to Epogen/Procrit (epoetin alfa) for the treatment of anemia caused by chronic kidney disease, chemotherapy, or use of zidovudine in patients with HIV infection. Retacrit is also approved for use before and after surgery to reduce […]
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 […]
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 […]
April 1, 2018
Philip J. Schneider, MS FASHP ASBM Advisory Board Chair This week, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed bills updating pharmacy regulations in their respective states. The new laws permit pharmacists to substitute interchangeable biosimilars in place of an originator biologic medicine when they are approved by the FDA. The signing […]
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 […]
February 8, 2018
For Immediate Release Naming Tool for Biologic Medicines Released; Ensures Compliance with FDA, WHO Standards Arlington, VA (February 8, 2018) The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) announced today that it has developed a web-based tool for the naming of biologic medicines to quickly ensure compliance with naming standards set forth by the FDA […]
