By Michael Reilly, Executive Director, Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) In a recent CBS News interview, newly appointed FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary called for more robust clinical evidence before recommending the latest COVID-19 booster shots. “There’s a void of data,” Dr. Makary said, underscoring a renewed focus on restoring public trust through a […]
Click below to read ASBM member WeWorkForHealth’s Fact Sheet on the effects of the IRA’s “Pill Penalty”, also known as the “Small-Molecule Penalty”, which disincentivizes R&D on chemically-derived medicines used to treat many serious conditions like cancer and heart disease: Click below to view
A recent IQVIA report funded by the generics industry trade group Association for Accessible Medicines is propagating several misleading claims about interchangeable biosimilars. ASBM has frequently addressed misinformation efforts about interchangeablity biosimilars in recent months, to correct the record and reinforce the rigorous FDA standards now protecting patient safety and treatment stability. Here are some […]
On February 25th, ASBM’s Immediate Past Chair Madelaine Feldman, MD FACR joined Members of Congress and other high-profile supporters of PBM reform at a Congressional event urging leadership to include critical bipartisan PBM reform legislation in the anticipated March funding package. The event, titled “Finish the Job! Pass PBM Reform Now” included welcome remarks from […]
On February 20th, Philip Schneider, ASBM Advisory Board Chair, taught a 2-hour class at the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy that examined how recent and proposed biosimilar policy changes may impact pharmacy practice within the biopharmaceutical industry. The module examined three current policy issues related to biosimilars: Pharmacy students were given basic information about […]
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Lower med standards endangers health Altoona Mirror Opinion Oct 2, 2024 Dr. Ralph McKibbin As a practicing physician in Pennsylvania, I firmly believe that the relationship between a doctor and their patient should guide every treatment decision. When physicians recommend treatments, we rely on years of training, clinical evidence, and the unique medical history of […]
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 […]
U.S. Physicians Overwhelmingly Support Current FDA Data Standards, Switching Studies for Interchangeable Biosimilars; Oppose Pharmacy Substitution of Non-Interchangeable Biosimilars FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE– September 4, 2024 Arlington, VA- U.S. physicians overwhelmingly support maintaining the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) current data standards for interchangeable biosimilars and oppose treating all biosimilars as interchangeable with the originator biologic […]
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 […]
In an April interview with EndpointsNews, an FDA official called on Congress to eliminate the distinction between biosimilars (which can be prescribed in place of their reference products by a physician) and “interchangeable” biosimilars, which can be substituted by pharmacists the way generics are. Doing so would undermine physician confidence in biosimilars and jeopardize treatment stability for many […]
On April 30, ASBM submitted comments to the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA’s) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) as part of a public consultation period on the Agency’s “Concept paper for the development of a Reflection Paper on a tailored clinical approach in Biosimilar development”. The document expresses the EMA’s intent to streamline biosimilar development by […]
On November 30, ASBM and the Generics and Biosimilars Initiative (GaBI) hosted Interchangeable Designation for Biosimilars- Ensuring Continuity of Patient Care: Upholding Interchangeability Status for Biosimilars. The webinar was the fourth in a series covering key health policy issues. The most recent of the webinars, hosted July 29th, examined the negative impact of the Inflation Reducation Act’s Medicare […]
In January, the Generics and Biosimilars Initiative (GaBI) published a whitepaper entitled “Medicare Drug Price Negotiations: Impact on Healthcare Development and Patient Access to Medicines”. The paper’s content is drawn from a webinar on the same topic hosted by ASBM and GaBI on July 26, 2023. It examines the likely negative effects of IRA’s price negotiation provisions, which allow the […]
By Michael Reilly, Executive Director, Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) In a recent CBS News interview, newly appointed FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary called for more robust clinical evidence before recommending the latest COVID-19 booster shots. “There’s a void of data,” Dr. Makary said, underscoring a renewed focus on restoring public trust through a […]
April 29, 2025 The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) commends Senator Bill Cassidy and the Senate HELP Committee for their new report, “Congress Must Act to Bring Needed Reforms to the 340B Program.” The program is designed to support underserved populations by ensuring access to medicines by allowing qualifying entities to safety-net hospitals, community […]
April 21, 2025 The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) commends President Donald J. Trump for his leadership in issuing an executive order to address the harmful “pill penalty” contained within the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This provision, enacted during the Biden administration, imposes price controls on small-molecule medicines—commonly delivered in pill or tablet form—just […]
A recent IQVIA report funded by the generics industry trade group Association for Accessible Medicines is propagating several misleading claims about interchangeable biosimilars. ASBM has frequently addressed misinformation efforts about interchangeablity biosimilars in recent months, to correct the record and reinforce the rigorous FDA standards now protecting patient safety and treatment stability. Here are some […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2025 Arlington, VA – The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) today expressed its support and gratitude to Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Budd (R-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), James Lankford (R-OK), and Steve Daines (R-MT) for their leadership in introducing the Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act (S. 832) […]
Click below to read ASBM member WeWorkForHealth’s Fact Sheet on the effects of the IRA’s “Pill Penalty”, also known as the “Small-Molecule Penalty”, which disincentivizes R&D on chemically-derived medicines used to treat many serious conditions like cancer and heart disease: Click below to view
Biologic medicines are used to treat millions of patients with serious illnesses like cancer, arthritis, and psoriasis. The patents for many biologic therapies are expiring, and biosimilars are entering the marketplace. These give patients new treatment options, and reduce costs through competition. Regulatory authorities around the world have put policies in place to ensure that biosimilars have been appropriately tested, and are safe and effective for patients.
Non-Medical Switching
Non-Medical Switching is when a patient is switched from one biologic medicine (either an originator product or a biosimilar) to another product- not for reasons of health or safety but for economic reasons. This is often done by a third party such as a private insurer, a pharmacy-benefit manager, or a government agency in order to save money, increase profits, or because of a deal made with a particular manufacturer. This practice is controversial among patients and physicians because treatment decisions are not "one size fits all". Many patients try several biologic medicines until they find one that stabilizes their condition; physicians generally oppose the unnecessary switching of medicines for stable patients.
The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines is an organization composed of diverse healthcare groups and individuals—from patients to physicians, biotechnology companies that develop innovative and biosimilar medicines and others who are working together to ensure patient safety is at the forefront of the biosimilars policy discussion.
