Everything You Need to Know About Biosimilars
Do you or a loved one have an inflammatory disease such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriasis? Have you heard about how biologic medications offer a new, powerful treatment option for those who have disease that is resistant to other medications? Do you know what makes biosimilars different from other generic drugs?
Use this page to discover everything you need to know about biosimilars. The video below is a great starting point, and you can follow the links to basic overviews and more in depth discussions on the effects of biosimilars. Don’t forget to check out the links to other patient groups, as these are all great resources.
Biosimilars Video
Infographs
Good Biosimilars Policy in Canada
Non-Medical Switch Myths
Recommended Exceptions
Survey Results
Biosimilars in AB and BC (2021)
Forced to Switch (2020)
Biosimilar Focus Group (2017)
Biosimilars in Canada (2015)
Articles and Discussion
Biologics and Biosimilars Overview: Learn all about the differences between biologics and biosimilars, and regulation of these medications in Canada. This page also includes a guide on what questions to ask your health care team about biosimilars so that you can stay informed. Click here +
Biologics and Biosimilars Overview (PDF): The same information as the Biologics and Biosimilars Overview, but in printable PDF form. Click here +
Forced to Switch: Canadian Biosimilar Experience Survey Report: We conducted a survey to understand the experiences of those in Canada who are using biologic medications. We also held phone interviews with patients who contacted us due to the non-medical switch policies for biologics and biosimilars in BC and Alberta. The report discusses an overview of what we heard directly from patients. Click here +
New! Gail Attara Speaking on Biologics in Canada
GI Society CEO, Gail Attara, speaking at ASBM/GaBI about the biologic landscape in Canada as of July 2022.
Updated! Biologics and Biosimilars Available in Canada: Find out which biologic and biosimilar medications are available in Canada. Click here +
Updated! Provincial and Territorial Biologics Policies: Learn more about the different provincial/territorial policies regarding biologic and biosimilar coverage. Click here +
How Biologics and Biosimilars Work: View diagrams that help explain how biologic medications work in the human body. Click here +
Biologic/Biosimilar Forum Report (PDF): On September 30, 2019, the GI Society hosted a forum about the BC Ministry of Health’s decision to switch patients from infliximab (Remicade®) to a biosimilar infliximab (Inflectra® or Renflexis®) to continue to be covered under BC PharmaCare. This report analyses the information gleaned and offers potential patient-focused alternative solutions. Click here +
Order Pamphlets
Are you a healthcare professional or support group organizer who wants to share information about biosimilars with many individuals, such as your patients, colleagues, or other interested individuals? You can use our pamphlet order form to obtain as many as 200 printed biosimilar pamphlets, sent free of charge in Canada.
About the National Biosimilars Working Group
As the number of biosimilar drugs available in Canada grows, so will the list of disease areas affected by health policies that govern prescribing practices around their use. Therefore, creating responsible, evidence-based policies that consider the different impact on patients in each of the disease areas affected is required to effectively maximize cost savings to public drug and health care budgets, while ensuring optimal health outcomes for patients.
The Biosimilars Working Group is a diverse group of non-profit organizations, registered health charities, and health care advocacy coalitions that are dedicated to ensuring patient outcomes and considerations are at the centre of health policy discussions in the biologics treatment area. The Biosimilars Working Group also strives to create up to date and evidence-based educational material for patients and healthcare professionals to facilitate informed consultation regarding treatments.