Episode 77: Biosimilars - What patients need to know

This episode is a Step 2 - an initial visit to the table - as outlined in our 6 Step Patient-Led Problem Solving Process.

As more treatment options are moving towards Biosimilars, many questions are being raised by patients. What are Biosimilars? Are they safe and effective? Are there downsides? Upsides? What are doctors' opinions on Biosimilars? What should I do if I am switched to a Biosimilar?

 

These are all questions that are at the forefront of our minds when living with AiArthritis diseases. This month, we invited patient advocates, doctors and coalition leaders to join the conversation to discuss and answer the many questions someone living with AiArthritis may have. Join us this month as we break down Biosimilars, share opinions, concerns, research, and resources so patients can better understand Biosimilars and what their availability means for their treatment plan.

 

Episode Highlights : 

• What are Biosimilars?
• The main concerns patients have with switching to Biosimilars
• What is Non-medical switching? Automatic Substitution? Interchangeability?
• Biosimilars are safe and effective and are recommended for patients to use if it does not interrupt continuity of care
• Regulations and the physicians involvement with switching patients to biosimilars 
• First steps to take if you are asked to switch to a Biosimilar
• Research and resources to learn more about Biosimilars 

 

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

• • AiArthritis Biosimilars Hotline: https://www.aiarthritis.org/biosimilars 
  • Biosimilars Patient Advocacy Toolkit: Global Colon Cancer Association in partnership with the World Patients Alliance/Global Colon Cancer Association
  • In addition to the toolkit mentioned, check out this website to watch all the recordings from the two day webinar series! LearnBiosimilars.org

• ASBM/GaBI Webinar: KEY SUCCESS FACTORS FOR BIOSIMILAR UPTAKE IN EU and US - Good overview of US and EU markets: 

• • Key Factors for Successful Uptake of Biosimilars: Europe and The US : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5DlKPpMjDk
  • Non-Medical Switching of Biologicals/Biosimilars : Canada, Europe and The US : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5nJkCJM32M
• Non-Medical Switching : Physician Perspectives : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ULgUQEcZ0
• GaBI Whitepaper on Canadian Substitution Policies: http://gabi-journal.net/a-critical-review-of-substitution-policy-for-biosimilars-in-canada.html
• GaBI Whitepaper on US Biosimilar Market Catching Up to Europe: http://gabi-journal.net/a-white-paper-us-biosimilars-market-on-pace-with-europe.html
• GaBI Whitepaper on Lessons from the European Biosimilar Markets: http://gabi-journal.net/policy-recommendations-for-a-sustainable-biosimilars-market-lessons-from-europe.html

Meet Our Co-Hosts & Guests: 

• Tiffany is the CEO at International Foundation for AiArthritis and uses her professional expertise in mind-mapping and problem solving to help others, like her, who live with AiArthritis diseases work in unison to identify and solve unresolved community issues.

 

Connect with Tiffany:

• Facebook: @tiffanyAiArthritis
• Twitter: @TiffWRobertson
• LinkedIn: @TiffanyWestrichRobertson

 

• Ralph McKibbin, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF  is the Chairman of Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines. Dr. McKibbin is a practicing gastroenterologist at Blair Gastroenterology Associates in Altoona, PA. He is past president of both the Pennsylvania Society of Gastroenterology and of the Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC). He sits on the Member Advisory Panel of the Pennsylvania Medical Society; and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Cancer Control Consortium. Dr. McKibbin has written extensively on the issues of non-medical switching and insurance industry utilization management techniques including step therapy and copay accumulator adjustments.

 

• Andrew Spiegel has nearly two decades of experience in the patient advocacy arena. Spiegel co-founded the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, now the leading US based national patient advocacy organization dedicated to colon cancer. Mr. Spiegel, an attorney, besides being a co-founder of the organization and longtime board member of the Alliance became CEO in January of 2008 and he ran the CCA for nearly 5 years, before undertaking his next venture, the Global Colon Cancer Association (GCCA).In addition to his work in the colon cancer community, Spiegel is an active advocate for health care policies both in the US and now worldwide. He is a co-founder and currently serves on the steering committee of the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM). He is on the Board of Directors, and in December 2014 was elected to Chair, of the Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC),a founding member of the Coalition to Increase Clinical Trial Participation and in May of 2016 he began a three year term as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Alliance of Patient Organizations (IAPO) where he chaired the fundraising committee. Spiegel has won multiple awards for his work in patient advocacy.

 

• Michael Reilly, Executive Director of Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines, has served as the executive director of ASBM since its inception in 2010. He has more than a decade of experience in the federal government developing and implementing healthcare policy. Mr. Reilly served as the associate deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 2005-2008 responsible for policy development and implementation, as well as regulatory oversight for issues involving CMS and the FDA. In addition to serving as the associate deputy secretary, Mr. Reilly served as a senior advisor to the assistant secretary for public affairs and the assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at HHS from 2002-2005. Mr. Reilly has been quoted in a series of FDA publications and co-authored many articles on biosimilars for the Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal. He has also presented to health regulators worldwide, including the Australian TGA, Health Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO).

 

Patient Voices and All Other Stakeholders - Join our AiArthritis Voices Program and Connect to Opportunities to Have Your Voice Counted

If you are a patient, a parent of a juvenile patient, or any other stakeholder (doctor, nurse, researcher, industry representative, or other health services person) - are you ready to join the conversation? It's your turn to pull up a seat. Join our new AiArthritis Voices program, where people living with AiArthritis diseases and other stakeholders who we need 'at the table' to solve problems that impact education, advocacy, and research sign up to have a voice in our initiatives. By signing up, you’ll get notified of opportunities to be more involved with this show - including submitting post-episode comments and gaining insider information on future show topics. Patients and all other stakeholders are encouraged to join so we can match you with opportunities to pull up a seat and TOGETHER - as equals - solve the problems of today and tomorrow.

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AiArthritis Voices 360 is produced by the International Foundation for Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis. Visit us on the web at www.aiarthritis.org/talkshow. Find us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook (@IFAiArthritis) or email us (podcast@aiarthritis.org).  Be sure to check out our top-rated show on Feedspot!