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Geneva, November 16, 2020 – Today the International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) launched the first ever Global Biosimilars Week, which is aimed at raising the awareness of biosimilar medicines worldwide through a globally aligned educational initiative.
IGBA Global Biosimilars Week will take place from November 16 to 20, and will be supported by a dedicated globalbiosimilarsweek.org website that contains resources and information for everyone, from patients to doctors. Biosimilars benefits, regulation, clinical use and market adoption will be covered.
“There is a wealth of information available globally about biosimilar medicines and the real-world evidence supporting their safety, efficacy and use,” explained Hanan Sboul, Chair of the IGBA. “Enhanced knowledge of biosimilar medicines will support improved access to life-saving biological treatments and support healthcare systems, which are under increasing pressure due to the rising costs of innovative treatments and the new fiscal demands created by the Covid-19 global public health crisis.”
“With this awareness campaign, the IGBA is providing a one-stop solution for anyone wanting to know more about biosimilar medicines. We invite all stakeholders to get involved and engage in the conversation by following along on social media using the hashtag #GlobalBiosimilarsWeek,” said Erika Satterwhite, Chair of the IGBA Biosimilars Committee.
IGBA member companies are the pioneers and global leaders in the development and marketing of biosimilar medicines. To date there have been more than 300 biosimilar approvals in jurisdictions representative of the IGBA’s membership, covering more than 10 therapeutic areas including oncology, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, growth disorders, nephrology, fertility and diabetes.
Biosimilars are an important part of the health care discussion with the potential to lead to over $54 billion in savings over the next ten years, giving 1.2 million patients access to needed medicines in the United States. Biosimilars are safe and effective, and in the United States experts estimate that biosimilars could be priced 10 to 35 percent less than their brand-name drug competitors, increasing access to treatment options.
Join the Biosimilars Council along with 17 other IGBA associations in building awareness. Follow the hashtag #GlobalBiosimilarsWeek to learn more about how biosimilar medicines can benefit patients globally and in the U.S. and use the social toolkit to join the conversation with daily themes throughout the week. Visit globalbiosimilarsweek.org for more information.
