Biosimilars Bulletin | October 2020

News and Updates

Jeni Got Her Life Back, Thanks to A Biosimilar: A Patient Story

The Biosimilars Council is excited to share the story of Jeni Doerr, a California resident and avid hiker, who uses a biosimilar to manage her pancolitis. In her own words: “Biosimilars truly gave me my life back!” Read her full story here.

New IQVIA Report: Biosimilars in the United States 2020–2024

The availability and use of biosimilars have accelerated and are on track to reduce drug costs by $100 billion over the next five years, according to new data from IQVIA.

Biosimilars Can Help Cancer Patients

A recent American Cancer Society report confirmed that patients and health care payers can save money when patients use a generic or biosimilar instead of a brand-name drug. Under one patient scenario, the report demonstrated 21% savings through a biosimilar.

IGBA Calls For ‘Streamlining’ of Global Biosimilars Process

The International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association has called for a “streamlined” global biosimilar development and registration process, with a new policy paper highlighting the limited value of comparative efficacy clinical data.

Greater Uptake, Education Needed to Realize Cost-Saving Potential of Biosimilars

More than five years after the first FDA approval of a biosimilar, the U.S. health care system has yet to realize the full potential of these products to reduce drug costs and increase access to hematology/oncology treatments.

Member Insights: Sean McGowan on the Current Biosimilar Market

Sean McGowan, senior director of biosimilars at AmerisourceBergen, discussed the current biosimilar pipeline and the potential effect on the market those products may have.

Biosimilars Help Texans Save Big on Prescription Drugs

Annette Guarisco Fildes, president and CEO of the ERISA Industry Committee, explains in a column in the Galveston County Daily News how Texans and all Americans can benefit from policies that increase availability and utilizations of biosimilars.

Wayne Winegarden, PhD, on Downside of Importing Drugs From Canada

Wayne Winegarden, PhD, a senior fellow in business and economics at the Pacific Research Institute and director of PRI’s Center for Medical Economics and Innovation, discusses why the FDA’s implementation of the Safe Importation Action Plan is controversial.

SCHATZ: Price Controls Have Never Worked, and They Won’t Work On Drug Prices

While everyone would like to pay less for drugs, price controls are a prescription for disaster. They have resulted in less access to innovative biopharmaceuticals.

B10similars: Reflecting on 10 Years of Biosimilars

Since the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act was enacted in 2010 as part of the Affordable Care Act, 28 biosimilars have been approved, providing patients with lower-cost, life-changing medicines.

Featured Resources

Lessons for the United States on Europe’s Biosimilar Experience

The United States established its biosimilars pathway ten years ago. This new white paper by Alex Brill, founder of Matrix Global Advisors, discusses what the United States can learn from Europe’s longer — but not necessarily more successful — experience with biosimilars.

Biosimilars Approvals and Launches

The Biosimilars Council compiled a comprehensive resource on the latest FDA-approved biosimilars, including launch dates where applicable.

Increase Patient Access to Lower-Cost Biosimilar Medicines

The Biosimilars Council outlines three legislative proposals in this one-pager that would help strengthen biosimilar adoption. Each is designed to ensure savings for patients and Medicare.

Upcoming Events

GRx+Biosims Virtual Conference

November 9-11, 2020

FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, is scheduled to address the industry at GRx+Biosims 2020. There’s never been a more important time to connect with leading health regulators and industry leaders. This year — wherever you are — you can be part of the only online experience for generics and biosimilars professionals. Register now to receive a special welcome kit. Quantities are limited, so act fast!

Global Biosimilars Week

November 16-20, 2020

The International Generic and Biosimilar medicines Association (IGBA) will be hosting the first ever Global Biosimilars Week (GBW). This week is a time to engage in initiatives around the world to raise awareness and educate patients, medical professionals, insurance providers and policymakers about biosimilar medicines. View the social toolkit.

About the Biosimilars Council

The Biosimilars Council, a division of the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM), works to ensure a positive environment for patient access to biosimilar medicines. The Biosimilars Council is a leading source for information about the safety and efficacy of more affordable alternatives to costly brand biologic medicines. Areas of focus include public and health expert education, strategic partnerships, government affairs, legal affairs and regulatory policy. More information is available on our about page.

About AAM

AAM is driven by the belief that access to safe, quality, effective medicine has a tremendous impact on a person’s life and the world around them. Generic and biosimilar medicines improve people’s lives, improving society and the economy in turn. AAM represents the manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars, manufacturers and distributors of bulk pharmaceutical chemicals, and suppliers of other goods and services to the generic industry. Generic pharmaceuticals are 90 percent of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. but only 23 percent of total drug spending. Additional information is available at www.accessiblemeds.org.