Press Releases – Safe Biologics

ASBM/IFA Survey: As Ontario Announces Forced Biosimilar Switching, Ophthalmologists Are Latest Specialty to Raise Concerns

February 28, 2023

Press Release: As Ontario Announces Forced Biosimilar Switching, Ophthalmologists Are Latest Specialty to Raise Concerns 28 February 2023 TORONTO, ONTARIO – Physicians and their patients- and not a government -should choose which biologic medicine to use, according to a new survey of Canadian ophthalmologists by the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) and the International […]

ASBM Welcomes Ralph McKibbin, MD as Chairman

September 9, 2021

ARLINGTON, VA- In a Full Member Call today the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) introduced gastroenterologist Ralph McKibbin, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF as the organization’s incoming chairman. Dr. McKibbin began his three year term on September 1st, succeeding outgoing chair Madelaine Feldman, MD, FACR. Dr. McKibbin will be the fourth chairman since ASBM was founded in […]

New White Paper To Detail European Biosimilar Evolution and Policy Principles

November 9, 2019

November 6, 2019 – Gatineau, Quebec – The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) today released an abstract from a forthcoming white paper that provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of the European biosimilars market. The abstract was released in conjunction with the Drug Information Association (DIA) Annual Canadian Meeting, an annual meeting of […]

ASBM Releases Preliminary Findings from European Prescribers Survey at ESMO 2019

October 1, 2019

September 30, 2019 – Barcelona, Spain – The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) this week shared preliminary findings from a survey of 575 biologic prescribers in six Western European countries, covering several key policy issues including biosimilar substitution practices, adverse event reporting, and government tendering criteria. Since 2010, the group has routinely surveyed physicians […]

Biosimilars Working Group Responds to Phase II of the BC PharmaCare Biosimilars Initiative

September 23, 2019

Biosimilars Working Group Responds to Phase II of the BC PharmaCare Biosimilars Initiative VANCOUVER, BC – Wednesday, September 18, 2019. On September 5, 2019, the BC government announced phase two of its Biosimilars Initiative, informing patients prescribed the originator biologic drug, Remicade® (infliximab), to treat inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) that this medication […]

ASBM Raises Concerns for Patients as BC Gov’t Expands Biologics Forced-Switching Policy

September 11, 2019

Erosion of Physician and Patient Treatment Choice Continues – Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines Raises Concerns for Patients as British Columbia Expands Biologics Forced Switching Policy September 10, 2019 VANCOUVER, B.C.- On September 5th, the Government of British Columbia (BC) announced that it would be forcibly switching 1,700 patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) […]

ASBM Releases Fact Sheet on British Columbia vs EU Substitution Policies

August 5, 2019

As BC attempts to increase biosimilar use by force-switching 23,000 patients, Europe enjoys high uptake rates while preserving patient and physician choice. On August 5th, ASBM released a fact sheet contrasting the biosimilar substitution policies of European countries (which generally have robust biosimilar markets) with the newly announced British Columbia policy. First fact sheet also addresses misconceptions […]

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, […]

Physicians, Patients Overwhelmingly Support FDA Distinct Biologic Naming Plan, Suffixes for New Products

May 14, 2019

Physicians, Patients Overwhelmingly Support FDA Distinct Biologic Naming Plan, Suffixes for New Products May 13, 2019 Arlington, VA – US physicians and patient advocacy organizations expressed their overwhelming support for the FDA’s suffix-based naming system for biologic medicines and biosimilars, according to comments electronically submitted last week to the agency. Biologic medicines treat […]

ASBM Statement Supporting Updated FDA Naming Guidance

March 12, 2019

ASBM commends the decision by FDA to apply distinguishable suffixes to all biologics, including interchangeable biosimilars, going forward. FDA’s decision puts in place a protocol for a safe future, when there are many more biologics, biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars. This policy ensures that patients and health care providers can distinguish between products when that is […]