All of us here today have the ability and the opportunity to change the lives of hundreds of millions of people,
declared Dan Leonard, CEO of the Association for Accessible Medicines on May 27, the second day of Access!—AAM’s signature annual event. I am optimistic,
his state of AAM address continued, because this industry has always risen to the challenge and I am confident that we will continue to do so.
The virtual conference convened health care and industry leaders to explore the generics and biosimilars industry’s opportunities and obstacles in the later stages and aftermath of the global COVID-19 pandemic. It is no exaggeration to say that we served as the bridge to the vaccine, and we should be rightfully proud of our contribution,
said Leonard.
.@DLeonard_DC at #Access2021: "Over the last year, dexamethasone, an affordable generic steroid proved to be one of the most effective treatments for #COVID19 patients..." (1/4) https://t.co/Zdc50jiZ1r pic.twitter.com/HXWFkxsIuk
— AAM (@AccessibleMeds) May 27, 2021
Deborah Birx, M.D., was one of the most visible and influential figures during the first months of the U.S. pandemic response. During a fireside chat at Access! she told Leonard, "I really want to thank everyone who works in your field. You’ve constantly made medicines available to us. These are the medicines that we use all over the world, and it has saved millions of people’s lives."
Download the Voices of Access report—and add your voice
Dr. Birx continued, People forget that you were the suppliers of those drugs that were needed when people were on ventilators. Those were essential medicines during Covid-19.… You guys are in the forefront of every place that we turn, not only in the pandemic but also in our daily ability to care for patients.
.@realDrBirx @TheBushCenter:"It will really be key to track what happens across the Sun Belt, across the South, in the June-July timeframe..." (1/6) https://t.co/g1Z3G8Cms5 #Access2021 #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/21AeUsvU8D
— AAM (@AccessibleMeds) May 27, 2021
Adam Fein of the Drug Channels Institute gave an interactive presentation on issues facing the industry, including what he called disruption from below.
Discount pharmacy cards, for example, are starting to account for a meaningful portion of the generic market. The companies offering these discounts, he said, are profiting from a broken health insurance system.
Adam Fein (@DrugChannels) addresses Evolution and Disruption in Generic and Biosimilar Drug Channels at #Access2021. https://t.co/g1Z3G8Cms5 #generics #biosimilars pic.twitter.com/2YpEnFGMSw
— AAM (@AccessibleMeds) May 27, 2021
Doug Long of IQVIA analyzed many of the same issues, spotlighting different trends, including increased competition, falling volume (caused by COVID) and falling prices. He also celebrated breakthroughs in the biosimilars market. The next five years,
Long predicted, will be a coming-out party for biosimilars.
Doug Long (@IQVIA_global)'s #Access2021 talk is titled "COVID-19 Impact on Generics: Trends, Issues & Outlook" https://t.co/g1Z3G8TXQF #COVID19 #generics #genericmedicines pic.twitter.com/p9xEl1X0kY
— AAM (@AccessibleMeds) May 27, 2021
Craig Burton, AAM Vice President, Policy, moderated a panel discussion on biosimilars with Pierre Bourdage (Sandoz), Nick Adolph (IQVIA), John Brooks (South Capitol Consultants) and Sean McGowan (AmerisourceBergen), who noted that the pandemic magnified the need to drive cost savings. The panelists recommended a range of policy fixes, including redesign of Medicare Part D.
Pierre Bourdage (@Sandoz_Global) talks #biosimilars at #Access2021, followed by a conversation with AAM Policy VP Craig Burton and Nick Adolph (@IQVIA_global), John Brooks (South Capitol Consultants) and Sean McGowan (@Healthcare_ABC) @BiosimsCouncil https://t.co/zrSumdig0q pic.twitter.com/AJeBnSJ3Cv
— AAM (@AccessibleMeds) May 27, 2021
For attendees, Access! 2021 sessions will be available to watch through August 31 on the conference platform. If you missed the conference, you can contact Jennifer Soup on availability of sessions.
By Erica Klinger, AAM Marketing Director
Published on June 11, 2021