IFA Position Statement - Eye See You - Biosimilars (cover)

Biosimilars have been introduced in various countries with Europe being the most mature market, establishing policies in 2005, followed by Japan, India, Korea, Canada, and the United States.iii In Canada, at the federal regulatory level, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) announced in May 2019 that the Common Drug Review (CDR) and the pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review. [...] Clinical dialogue in conjunction with comprehensive patient education are foundational elements of a vision health plan and policy framework for the use of biosimilars in ophthalmology to achieve the goal of sustainable access and affordability. [...] As the development and implementation of biosimilars has implications for patient management and access to treatments, evidence-based information and education remain a focus to mobilize the ophthalmic and patient advocacy community. [...] The IFA Position Effective government policy is built on sound evidence that places the patient at the centre of management and treatment decisions specific to the nature and duration of the eye condition. [...] There is a need to continue efforts with and on behalf of the vision health community, as it relates to the introduction of biosimilars in ophthalmology: • to centralize the patient in all discussions pertaining to biosimilars in ophthalmology, prioritizing patient care and access; • to provide partners and the public with emerging intelligence to better understand biosimilars in this new therapeu.