Sheila Frame, the vice president of marketing, market access, and patient services at Sandoz, discusses US biosimilar policies in development and the impact they will have on the market at the World Biosimilar Congress 2020 at the Festival of Biologics USA in San Diego, California.
Sheila Frame is the vice president of marketing, market access, and patient services at Sandoz.
Transcript:
How do you think policy changes will affect the biosimilar market?
The great thing about the policy environment in the United States today is, finally, people are realizing that the current US system is not sustainable. Biosimilars offer such an obvious opportunity for immediate savingd that not only will help save the system, but also will improve access and certainly improve patient care. So, some of the policies that we're putting forward through the Biosimilars Forum relate to the experience that we've had in Europe and in Canada and in other countries, where you know that if you encourage incentives in the system, physicians and patients will adopt biosimilars much more quickly. We also know that most of the hospitals in the [Medicare] Part B space and in the medical benefits space really are trying to push quality and improve quality. So, quality star ratings in the United States, if these organizations adopt biosimilars quickly, should be given great credit. It's probably the one item that achieves complete bipartisan support in the United States. We've got 5 bills in front of Congress in the Senate right now that will definitely spur and encourage biosimilars. And finally, the balance and the opportunity that biosimilars create, to make space in the system for those important innovations that are coming through that are leading to cures in many of these areas. So, those are the policy areas that we're really advancing now, and I feel very confident and optimistic that we're going to see some movement in this regard this year.
Eye on Pharma: Sandoz Files Antitrust Suit; Yuflyma Interchangeability; Costco’s Ustekinumab Pick
April 22nd 2025Sandoz's antitrust suit against Amgen, the FDA’s interchangeability designation for Celltrion’s adalimumab biosimilar, and the inclusion of an ustekinumab biosimilar in Costco’s prescription program highlight growing momentum to expand biosimilar access and affordability for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.
How AI Can Help Address Cost-Related Nonadherence to Biologic, Biosimilar Treatment
March 9th 2025Despite saving billions, biosimilars still account for only a small share of the biologics market—what's standing in the way of broader adoption and how can artificial intelligence (AI) help change that?
President Trump Signs Executive Order to Bring Down Drug Prices
April 16th 2025To help bring down sky-high drug prices, President Donald Trump signed an executive order pushing for faster biosimilar development, more transparency, and tougher rules on pharmacy benefit managers—aiming to save billions and make meds more affordable for everyone.
Will the FTC Be More PBM-Friendly Under a Second Trump Administration?
February 23rd 2025On this episode of Not So Different, we explore the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) second interim report on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) with Joe Wisniewski from Turquoise Health, discussing key issues like preferential reimbursement, drug pricing transparency, biosimilars, shifting regulations, and how a second Trump administration could reshape PBM practices.
Latest Biosimilar Deals Signal Growth Across Immunology, Oncology Markets
April 14th 2025During Q1 2025, pharmaceutical companies accelerated biosimilar expansion through strategic acquisitions and partnerships in hopes of boosting patient access to lower-cost treatments in immunology and oncology.
Experts Pressure Congress to Remove Roadblocks for Biosimilars
April 12th 2025Lawmakers and expert witnesses emphasized the potential of biosimilars to lower health care costs by overcoming barriers like pharmacy benefit manager practices, limited awareness, and regulatory delays to improve access and competition in chronic disease management during a recent congressional hearing.