AAM praises Supreme Court Ruling granting access to biosimilars

The Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM) applauded the US Supreme Court’s decision this week in Sandoz Inc. v. Amgen that will help speed patient access to biosimilar versions of expensive brand-name biologic medicines.

In a unanimous ruling, the Court overturned a lower court decision that had effectively extended the brand manufacturer’s opportunity for monopoly protection. The Biosimilars Council, a division of the AAM, filed an amicus brief in the case consistent with the Court’s ruling, recognising delaying competition would cost patients, insurers, and taxpayers billions of dollars in savings.

"The Supreme Court’s decision is a huge victory for American patients and consumers," said AAM President and CEO Chip Davis. "This ruling will help provide faster access to lower-cost biosimilar medicines for millions of patients facing diseases such as several forms of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and other life-threatening conditions."

"Without biosimilar competition, the US consumer pays higher prices for life saving medicine. In this case, the Supreme Court said 12 years was long enough for biologics to have a monopoly, and the ruling likely will spur more manufacturers to develop and launch biosimilars without unnecessary delay," said Bruce Leicher, chair of the Biosimilars Council and Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "A healthy competitive marketplace keeps the innovation engine of American industry on track."

AAM

AAM is driven by the belief that access to safe, quality, effective medicine has a tremendous impact on a person’s life and the world around them. Generic and biosimilar medicines improve people’s lives, improving society and the economy in turn. AAM represents the manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars, manufacturers and distributors of bulk pharmaceutical chemicals, and suppliers of other goods and services to the generic industry. Generic pharmaceuticals are 89 percent of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. but only 26% of total drug spending.

AAM Biosimilars Council

The Biosimilars Council, a division of the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM), works to ensure a positive environment for patient access to biosimilar medicines. The Biosimilars Council is a leading source for information about the safety and efficacy of more affordable alternatives to costly brand biologic medicines. Areas of focus include public and health expert education, strategic partnerships, government affairs, legal affairs and regulatory policy.