16 November 2020
Geneva, Switzerland
Today the International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) launched the first ever Global Biosimilars Week, which is aimed at raising the awareness of biosimilar medicines worldwide through a globally aligned educational initiative.
IGBA Global Biosimilars Week will take place from November 16 to 20, and will be supported by a dedicated globalbiosimilarsweek.org website that contains resources and information for everyone, from patients to doctors. Biosimilars benefits, regulation, clinical use and market adoption will be covered.
“There is a wealth of information available globally about biosimilar medicines and the real-world evidence supporting their safety, efficacy and use,” explained Hanan Sboul, Chair of the IGBA. “Enhanced knowledge of biosimilar medicines will support improved access to life-saving biological treatments and support healthcare systems, which are under increasing pressure due to the rising costs of innovative treatments and the new fiscal demands created by the Covid-19 global public health crisis.”
“With this awareness campaign, the IGBA is providing a one-stop solution for anyone wanting to know more about biosimilar medicines. We invite all stakeholders to get involved and engage in the conversation by following along on social media using the hashtag #GlobalBiosimilarsWeek,” said Erika Satterwhite, Chair of the IGBA Biosimilars Committee.
IGBA member companies are the pioneers and global leaders in the development and marketing of biosimilar medicines. To date there have been more than 300 biosimilar approvals in jurisdictions representative of the IGBA’s membership, covering more than 10 therapeutic areas including oncology, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, growth disorders, nephrology, fertility and diabetes.
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ABOUT GBMA
GBMA is the national association representing companies that manufacture, supply and export generic and biosimilar medicines. GBMA represents all major generic medicine suppliers in Australia and more than 90% of all generic medicines dispensed in Australia. Members of GBMA ensure all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, which provide affordable health outcomes that benefit all Australians. Members of GBMA take seriously their role in the responsible provision of affordable medicines in Australia, as stipulated in the National Medicines Policy. The generic and biosimilar medicines sector is a high value-add sector delivering significant health and economic benefits to the Australian public. The availability of generic medicines in this country helps to deliver:
– Timely access to affordable medicines;
– Substantial savings to the PBS;
– Thousands of highly skilled jobs; and
– Domestic manufacturing and annual exports of around $300 million.
For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au
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