On March 15th, The Atlantic presented “The Next Drugs: The Future for Biosimilars – An Atlantic Policy Briefing” at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Underwritten by the Biosimilars Council, more than 100 influencers from across the country braved a late blast of winter weather to discuss the potential impact on the biosimilars industry of the new administration, changing regulations and recent FDA guidelines on interchangeability and naming.
Comments and discussion among the speakers and panelists confirmed that access to affordable healthcare is very much on the minds of American people as well being a top priority for policymakers on Capitol Hill. Presently, the FDA is working to create biosimilar policies and regulation that provide both patients and physicians with clarity and confidence around biosimilar usage.
While the U.S. has taken a more conservative stance on biosimilars than the European Union, biosimilars have the potential to be an “explosive” part of the U.S. drug market in the next 5-10 years, said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society. With the worldwide market for biosimilars estimated to reach $25-$30 billion dollars over the next four years, the possibilities for development and increased patient access to these vital treatments are highly promising.
Our special thanks to all who participated, especially:
- Representative Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health
- Jim Van Lieshout, Vice President, Market Access and Pharmacy Strategy, Apobiologix
- Len Lichtenfeld M.D., Deputy Chief Medical Officer, American Cancer Society
- David Fox, Partner, Hogan Lovells
- Joie Chen, Journalist and Contributor, AtlanticLIVE
If you were unable to join the live event, full video is available here; review Tweets from participants at http://bit.ly/2mTNWTH.
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By Erica Klinger, AAM Marketing Director