EMA Promotes Understanding and Use of Biosimilars

In an effort to provide healthcare professionals with information on the science and regulation of biosimilars, European regulators have published Biosimilars in the EU: Information Guide for Healthcare Professions, the European Medicines Agency announced on May 5, 2017. The guide, which was jointly published with the European Commission (EC) in collaboration with scientific experts in the European Union, explains the development, approval, and safety of biosimilars. It also offers information on availability, interchangeability, and prescribing.

The EC launched the guide at its Third Stakeholder Conference on Biosimilar Medicines, which was held in Brussels on May 5, 2017. Participants at the conference, which included patient representatives, healthcare professionals, authorities, and pharma companies, discussed clinical experiences, best practices in biologics, and the impact of the Public Procurement Directive on access to biosimilars.

“Today, biosimilars are an integral part of the effective biological therapies available in the EU,” said Professor Guido Rasi, EMA’s executive director, in a press release. “Given the role of healthcare professionals on the front line of patient care, it is vital that they have access to reliable information on these medicines: what they are and how they are developed, approved, and monitored.”

Source: EMA