Participants included representatives of public authorities, patients' organisations, healthcare professionals, and pharmaceutical companies. They shared their best practices and clinical experiences with biological medicines, including biosimilars. Topics will included policy choices on the uptake of biosimilars in oncology, sustainable procurement practices, and how to improve the understanding of biosimilars.

IQVIA (formerly IMS Health & Quintilles) presented the updated 2018 report on the impact of biosimilar competition in the EU. 

The 'information guide for healthcare professionals' was already available in English has now been published in more EU languages (German, Dutch, Spanish, French, Polish, Portuguese and Italian). 75% of the EU population can now access realistic and unbiased information in their own language. The EMA prepared the guide with the Commission and scientific experts from the EU countries. It gives EU healthcare professionals reference information about the science and regulation related biosimilar use.

Documents and links

• Agenda
• Meeting summary
• IQVIA Report 2018: The impact of biosimilar competition in Europe
• Information guide for healthcare professionals, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, PL, PT
• Video on biosimilar medicines for patients, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, PL, PT
• Q & A for patients (previously published)

Presentations

• Aim of the European Society of Oncology Pharmacy ESOP
• Biosimilars introduction in Denmark
• Biosimilars use in Oncology  Overview by the EMA on biosimilars approved so far
• Biosimilars use in Oncology - The NHS Experience
• Biosimilars use in oncology - The role of Cancer Nurses
• BOM project - tailormade education on biosimilars in Dutch hospitals
• Current position of biosimilars in the field Gastroenterology - (IBD) 2018
• European Cancer Patient Coalition
• EUSOP - European Specialization in Oncology Pharmacy
• Improving understanding of biosimilars across the EU
• Session 2: sustainable procurement practices - key to healthy competition
• Spanish society of hospital pharmacy position paper on Biosimilar
• Session 2: Sustainable Procurement Practices
• Swedish regional cooperation - model and future biosimilar access oncology
• The role of physicians in prescribing biosimilars and creating opportunities
• The role of Biosimilars in the Italian healthcare system

More information

• See our 'projects' under the 'platform on access to medicines' on our biosimilars in the EU page
• See EMA's webpage on biosimilar medicines

Contact

Unit D3 - Biotechnology and Food Supply Chain: GROW-D3@ec.europa.eu