April 11, 2023
On March 5th-6th, ASBM Chairman Ralph McKibbin, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF participated in the 33rd annual Digestive Disease National Coalition public policy forum in Washington, DC March 5th and 6th. The advocacy conference brought together patient advocates, health care providers, and industry representatives from the major national voluntary and professional societies concerned with digestive diseases. […]
January 30, 2023
In December, the Ontario government announced that it would follow other Canadian provinces including British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and require mandatory switching to biosimilars. a mandatory switching in 2020, but implementation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A nine-month transition period will begin March 31st. From the government’s announcement: Ontarians receiving coverage under the ODB […]
November 20, 2022
On November 9th, two ASBM Steering Committee members participated in the 2022 Generics and Biosimilars Conference (GRx+Biosims), held in Bethesda, MD. Andrew Spiegel of the Global Colon Cancer Association and Gavin Clingham of the Alliance for Patient Access both shared patient perspectives on biosimilars at a panel entitled “The Patient Voice in Drug Development”. The purpose […]
October 10, 2022
As reported in Generics Bulletin October 10th, Dr. Sarah McMullen, India country director for the US Food and Drug Administration underscored that there’s no real distinction in the standards to determine the safety or efficacy for both biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars, and put forth a “fact check” to dispel the general notion among patients that interchangeables are […]
February 28, 2022
ASBM has released our latest video, “Non-Medical Switching”, featuring ASBM Chairman Ralph McKibbin, MD. In the video, Dr. McKibbin shares new data from ASBM’s recent survey of 401 U.S. prescribers of biologics, as well as his own observations on the controversial practice. Among the survey findings: 69% of US physicians surveyed consider it “very important or critical” […]
December 8, 2021
House Bill Would Distort Treatment Decisions, Undermine Physician-Patient Relationship On December 2nd, ASBM sent a letter to House leaders reiterating our opposition. The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules has released new language for H.R. 5376 containing a provision that would pay physicians a 33% bonus for prescribing their patient the government-preferred biosimilar. The bill calls for […]
December 2, 2021
On November 17th, ASBM’s Immediate Past Chair Madelaine Feldman, MD, FACR testified at a public hearing of the Congressional Oversight Committee. Entitled “Reviewing the Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers in Pharmaceutical Markets”, the hearing examined the role of PBMs in contributing to higher drug prices. From Dr. Feldman’s testimony: The out-of-pocket costs for these miraculous RA medications […]
November 8, 2021
House Bill Would Distort Treatment Decisions, Undermine Physician-Patient Relationship The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules has released new language for H.R. 5376 containing a provision that would pay physicians a 33% bonus for prescribing their patient the government-preferred biosimilar. The bill calls for a “temporary increase in Medicare Part B payments for certain biosimilars,” […]
September 30, 2021
On September 30th, the Generics and Biosimilars Initiative published GaBI Journal, Volume 10, 2021, Issue 3, containing a new whitepaper by ASBM Executive Director Michael Reilly and Advisory Board Chair Philip Schneider. The paper is entitled “A Critical Review of Substitution Policy for Biosimilars in Canada” and highlights the stark contrast between the forced-substitution policies recently enacted by some Canadian provinces and the pro-competition policies […]
September 30, 2021
ASBM Welcomes Ralph McKibbin, MD as Chairman In a Full Member Call September 9th, 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 is the fourth chairman since ASBM was […]
