Since 2010, a multi-stakeholder dialogue and co-operation at European level has been put in place under the Process on Corporate Responsibility/Access to Medicines in Europe including a Working Group on Market Access to and Uptake of Biosimilar Medicinal Products. The multi-stakeholder workshop held in Brussels was the fifth follow-up event to the activities related to biosimilars under the Process. The first in the series of annual workshops on biosimilars was organized by the EC in 2015.

The EC approved its first biosimilar Omnitrope (somatropin) back in 2006 [2]. Through its so-called ‘multi-stakeholder approach’ the EC (Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs) aims to build a common understanding and trust between doctors and patients, payers and the commercial operators.

A wide variety of participants representing patients, healthcare professionals, authorities and pharmaceutical industry companies shared experiences on the use of biologicals, including biosimilars. The discussions focused on policy choices and practices related to the uptake of biosimilars, in particular on the long-term sustainability of the biosimilar market.

As in previous years, IQVIA (formerly Quintiles & IMS Health) presented the updated 2019 report on the impact of biosimilar competition.

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References
1. European Commission Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Multi-stakeholder Workshop on Biosimilar Medicinal Products; 30 October 2019; Brussels, Belgium.
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars approved in Europe [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Jan 10]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-approved-in-Europe

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