Biosimilars Training Program

A Biosimilar Training Program was held from 10-11 May 2022, which educated patient advocates from all over the world on the health and economic benefits of biosimilars as well as the challenges they create for patients. The WPA partnered with the Global Colon Cancer Association and the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines for providing this extensive training program. This virtual event was open to patient advocates worldwide, representing all disease areas and attended by experts including physicians, pharmacists, regulators, and manufacturers. Patient advocates from around the world also shared their advocacy stories and strategies.

The training program highlighted how biologicals offers significant benefits and enhanced quality of life for patients with chronic diseases. However, finding a working treatment regimen may take a long time and involves trial and error for a patient’s individual case. Nevertheless, government policies that force biosimilar switching for non-medical and strictly economic reasons may affect patients’ treatment and their well-being, create mistrust in the healthcare system, undermine competition, increase total healthcare costs, and function as a barrier to innovation and future access to new biological drugs for patients. The attendees were taught how to collaborate with allies, identify champions, make clear policy request, build long-term relationships with policymakers, stay informed and keep your members engaged. The participants were also provided extensive training on the Biosimilars Patient Advocacy Toolkit which includes definitions, questions for your doctor, sample position statements for your organization, sample letters to policy makers, and much more

For more information, please visit: https://learnbiosimilars.org/