Biotech Groups Praise Washington State Biosimilars Bills

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA) on Wednesday praised a push by Washington State lawmakers to tighten dispensation of biosimilars.

While the FDA oversees approval of biologic medicines and their interchangeability, policies governing whether one product may be substituted in place of a doctor’s prescription and whether a pharmacist must inform patients and doctors are covered by state law, the groups note.

The Washington State legislation, HB 2326, and companion SB 6091, would allow pharmacists to prevent substituting an interchangeable biosimilar for a brand product under certain circumstances.

Amgen and Genentech have been pushing state legislators to enact similar measures, but the generic industry says such rules will create hurdles for the uptake of biosimilars.

However, BIO and WBBA say a number of biosimilars manufacturers support the Washington bills.

In October, California governor Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that meant to tighten dispensation of biosimilars, claiming that the bill’s reporting provision might cast doubt on the drugs’ safety.

Read the text of the bill at www.fdanews.com/ext/resources/files/01/01-24-14-HB2326.pdf. — Lena Freund

Subscribe to Drug Industry Daily for complete coverage of the pharmaceutical industry. Click here for more information.