Geneva 10 November 2020 – On the occasion of the World Health Assembly, the world’s research-based and generic & biosimilar pharmaceutical industry bodies delivered a statement declaring their shared commitment to equitable access to COVID-19 medicines and vaccines. In their joint statement, the two global pharmaceutical industry bodies acknowledge their responsibility and commitment to support the international response to the pandemic with their unique scientific, technical and manufacturing expertise to meet the increased demand for medicines; and to the discovery and development of affordable therapeutics and vaccines for COVID-19. However, for the pharmaceutical industry to do so fully, it requires others to play their part.

Following its first peer-reviewed scientific paper on biosimilar medicines development: the Path Towards Tailored Clinical Biosimilar Development (Biodrugs), the International Generic and Biosimilar medicines Association (IGBA), which represents global manufacturers of generic and biosimilar medicines, today released a new policy paper: “Developing a Regulatory Framework Supporting Biosimilar Competition: The Opportunity for Tailored Clinical Biosimilar Development”