Praise for Canada’s BC after it adopts biosimilar transitioning policy

Home/Policies & Legislation | Posted 06/09/2019 post-comment0 Post your comment

The Canadian Biosimilars Forum and Green Shield Canada have publicly commended the government of the province of British Columbia (BC) for announcing that it will implement biosimilar transitioning [1]. Here, patients will transition in a controlled manner from using a reference biological drug to its biosimilar. In their announcement, the Forum believes that BC will make big savings that will allow increased access to existing therapies and faster access to new medicines.

01 AA007239

Biosimilars have been used across Europe for more than a decade and at present, 13 countries support policies to implement biosimilar transitioning. This form of policy has been supported by scientific literature as being safe and effective. It can improve access to medicines by vastly reducing healthcare spending through replacing the use of reference biologicals with cheaper biosimilars.

Biologicals are one of Canada's fastest-growing segments of pharmaceutical spending. They accounted for sales of CA$7.6 billion in 2017 and 35.5 per cent of total brand prescription sales, including seven out of the top 10 pharmaceutical drugs [2]. As such, transitioning to biosimilars could offer great savings whilst safely providing a positive impact on both patients and long-term health system sustainability.

Although biosimilars offer many benefits, their use in Canada is low at present. The Canadian Biosimilars Forum is an alliance of biosimilars companies including, Merck Canada, Pfizer Canada, Sandoz Canada and Teva Canada. Green Shield Canada is a not-for-profit health company that provides drug, dental, extended health care, vision, hospital and travel benefits to individuals and groups. These two organizations stand in support of BC’s biosimilar transitioning decision and hope that other provinces will also take steps to increase the uptake of biosimilars.

Related articles
Green Shield Canada’s biosimilar switch pilot a success

Green Shield Canada preferentially lists biosimilars

References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Canada’s British Columbia to switch patients to biosimilars [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2019 Sep 6]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Policies-Legislation/Canada-s-British-Columbia-to-switch-patients-to-biosimilars
2. IQVIA PharmaFocus 2021 Update: Section 9 The Business of Pharmaceutical, November 2017 – p.116

Permission granted to reproduce for personal and non-commercial use only. All other reproduction, copy or reprinting of all or part of any ‘Content’ found on this website is strictly prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. Contact the publisher to obtain permission before redistributing.

Copyright – Unless otherwise stated all contents of this website are © 2019 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved

comment icon Comments (0)
Post your comment
Related content
Public consultation for the modification of the biosimilars regulation
02 AA010638
Home/Policies & Legislation Posted 16/01/2024
COFEPRIS promotes regulatory cooperation in the Americas
Latin America 1638px
Home/Policies & Legislation Posted 12/12/2023
ANVISA's decision on 'Skinny labels' for generics pending
Labelling V14I26
Home/Policies & Legislation Posted 14/11/2023
Most viewed articles
About GaBI
Home/About GaBI Posted 06/08/2009
EU guidelines for biosimilars
EMA logo 1 V13C15
Home/Guidelines Posted 08/10/2010