Biosimilar Policy Subgroup - 24 November 2020 - Communique
Page last updated: 9 April 2021
The Biosimilar Policy Subgroup of the Generic Medicines Working Group and the Access to Medicines Working Group met on 24 November 2020. Participants in the Subgroup are representatives from the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), Medicines Australia and the Department of Health (the Department).
An outline of recent activities by the Department to implement the Government’s medicines related measures during the COVID‑19 pandemic was presented.
Members discussed uptake drivers for a number of biosimilars, including the latest aggregate PBS data showing increasing utilisation of biosimilar medicines relative to the reference brand. The Department noted that while overall uptake of biosimilars has steadily increased, there is variability amongst individual molecules. Further analysis is required to understand the causes of this variability and the factors which are influencing uptake for each of the molecules.
The Department provided members with an update on biosimilar policy and on the Electronic Prescribing and Active Ingredient Prescribing initiatives, which are well progressed towards full implementation in 2021.
The GBMA provided members with an update on the progress of activities undertaken as part of the Biosimilar Education grant. This includes a number of healthcare professional education modules certified for continuing professional development purposes. An overview of market research investigating healthcare professional understanding of, and confidence in, biosimilars was also provided.
The timing of the next meeting of the Biosimilar Policy Subgroup is to be confirmed.
