Webinars
Webinar Agenda
| 3:00 – 3:04 pm | Welcome and Setting the Scene for Vision Health Month Chair: Dr. Jane Barratt Secretary General, International Federation on Ageing (IFA) |
| 3:04 – 3:10 pm | Eye See You (ESY) Program: Advocating for Options in Eye Health Ms. Urvashi Rathod Policy & Project Coordinator, International Federation on Ageing (IFA) |
| 3:10 – 3:25 pm | ASBM/IFA Canadian Ophthalmologist Biologics/Biosimilars Study Mr. Michael Reilly Executive Director, Alliance for Safe Biologics Medicines |
| 3:25 – 3:40 pm | Impact of Biosimilars Policies on Patient Care Ms. Sylvie Castonguay Executive Director, Association Québécoise de la Dégénérescence Maculaire |
| 3:40 – 3:55 pm | Discussion: Informing Biosimilar Education and Policy Moderator: Dr. Jane Barratt Secretary General, International Federation on Ageing (IFA) |
| 3:55 – 4:00 pm | Concluding Remarks Chair: Dr. Jane Barratt Secretary General, International Federation on Ageing (IFA) |
Speaker’s Biographies
Ms. Sylvie Castonguay
Executive Director, Association Québécoise de la Dégénérescence Maculaire
Sylvie Castonguay, who has dry macular degeneration herself, has been leading the Quebec Macular Degeneration Association since March 2022. Before joining AQDM, she held management positions in public relations and partnership development in the field of business services, in the associative sector and in the health sector. She has also defended numerous causes as president of boards of directors. Having experienced it in several groups, she knows that mutual aid and mobilization can achieve great things, even with small means.
Mr. Michael Reilly
Executive Director, Alliance for Safe Biologics Medicines
Michael Reilly has served as the executive director of the Alliance of Safe Biologic Medicine (ASBM) since its inception in 2010. He has more than a decade of experience developing and implementing healthcare policy in the federal government. Reilly served as the associate deputy secretary at the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 2005-2008, responsible for policy development and implementation and regulatory oversight for issues involving the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Food and Drug Administration. In addition to serving as the associate deputy secretary, Reilly served as a senior advisor to the assistant secretary for public affairs and the assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at HHS from 2002-2005. Reilly has been quoted in a series of Food and Drug Administration publications and co-authored many articles on biosimilars for the Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal. He has also presented to health regulators worldwide, including the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Health Canada, the European Commission, the European Medicines Agency, the Italian and Spanish Ministries of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Jane Barratt, PhD
Secretary General, International Federation on Ageing
Dr. Jane Barratt is the Secretary General, International Federation on Ageing (IFA), an international NGO with general consultative status at the United Nations and its agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO). Her leadership drives the agenda for the world’s population ageing within the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. Among her many current positions Jane is a Member, Vision Academy, Director, Baycrest Health Sciences, Associate Scientist, Sinai Health System, Member, International Council for Adult Immunisation and Task, Member, World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Ageing and Longevity, CSO Representative, WHO COVAX Pillar “vaccine strategy” and Member of the European Interdisciplinary Council on Ageing Assembly.
Ms. Urvashi Rathod
Policy & Project Coordinator, International Federation on Ageing
Urvashi Rathod currently serves as the Policy & Project Coordinator of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA). She is in charge of coordinating interdisciplinary projects with public and private sector clients. Leading the vision health portfolio, her work involves engaging relevant global stakeholders to review and influence ophthalmic biosimilars policies. Ms. Rathod’s experiences have defined her expertise in policy and data analysis, project management, advocacy, and knowledge translation. She has authored many articles in peer-reviewed journals. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Health from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University and an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto. Ms. Rathod is passionate about improving global healthcare systems by mitigating inequalities, building capacity, and driving
Vision health is of utmost importance for healthy ageing, maintaining functional ability and ensuring good quality of life. Older people disproportionately experience vision impairment and with the global population ageing, alongside increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, there is a need to ensure appropriate and timely vision care for all.
While innovation in the vision health space is emerging, the health system of Canada challenges the very principles of access and equity due to varying policies depending on the region. Introduction of ophthalmic biosimilars in 2023 marks an important change in policy whereby governments are dictating non-medical mandatory switching (NMS) from the reference biologic to the biosimilar, resulting in a significant and direct impact on patient care. Hence, there is a need to understand and apply interdisciplinary guidance and good practices in Canada’s biosimilar landscape to support access to comprehensive, person-centred vision care.
Against this backdrop, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is hosting a webinar to bring together thought leaders in the vision health space to raise awareness on the importance of eye health, prevention of vision loss and work to inform policies and practice underpinned with the principles of safe, effective and appropriate treatment, developed by the treating physicians in consultation with their patients.
Webinar Recording
Over 2 million Canadians are currently living with vision loss as a result of retinal diseases. The current most advanced treatments available for eye conditions include biologic anti-VEGF treatment as a way to slow vision loss in people with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) or diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, with patents on the anti-VEGF biologics soon to expire, there is an emerging trend toward the use of biosimilars in ophthalmic practice. Government policies in India, Europe, and the United States of America (USA) to procure and implement biosimilars are not only about the safety and efficacy of the regimen, but also the potential cost-savings.
In Canada, various federal and provincial consultations have informed the broad landscape of biosimilars policies, yet sparse attention has been given to specific fields such as ophthalmology. Awareness and education of biosimilars (rather than the originator) as a treatment option is an important step towards the development of policies that support safe and effective management and treatment, specific to the needs of patients and their medical conditions.
To position this emerging field in a Canadian context with a focus on awareness and education of physician and patients, and the barriers of implementing biosimilar policies globally, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) convened a virtual roundtable discussion on ‘Emerging Trends in Ophthalmic Biosimilars Policy in Canada’. Leaders of civil society and patient advocacy groups, alongside retinal specialists and public policy experts shared perspectives in this forum on biosimilar policies and practice with respect to the changing vision health landscape in Canada.
Findings:
The meeting unpacked details related to physician and patient experiences and the level of awareness of biosimilars, along with the challenges and successes of implementing biosimilars policies globally, and the potential impact of mandatory non-medical switching to biosimilars policies on patients in Canada.
Goal:
Understand prescribers’ attitudes, beliefs, and intentions toward biosimilars medications
Emerging Trends in Ophthalmic
Biosimilars Policy in Canada Roundtable Summary Report International Federation on Ageing
Analysis of Biosimilars Policies
The European, American, and Canadian Landscape Michael Reilly | Executive Director, ASBM
Comparison of Global Biosimilar Policies
A Closer loot at safety, efficacy and regulation Biosimilars Forum
Patient and Physician Experience with Ophthalmic Biosimilars from India
The Indian Experience Dr. Ashish Sharma | Lotus Eye Hospital and Institute
Global Perspective on Biosimilar Markets and Sustainability
International Federation on Ageing Roundtable IQVIA Institute
Webinar Recording
Social Media Kit
#Governments must develop policies that move the biosimilar discussion beyond an economic savings model toward the health and well-being of patients. This begins with interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral collaboration and targeted advocacy efforts. https://bit.ly/3L9E9m5
#ifa #vision #health #biosimilars
#Governments must develop policies that move the biosimilar discussion beyond an economic savings model toward the health and well-being of patients. This begins with interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral collaboration and targeted advocacy efforts. https://bit.ly/3L9E9m5
#ifa #vision #health #biosimilars
#Governments must develop policies that move the biosimilar discussion beyond an economic savings model toward the health and well-being of patients. This begins with interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral collaboration and targeted advocacy efforts. https://bit.ly/3L9E9m5
#ifa #vision #health #biosimilars
This roundtable is supported by the generous unrestricted educational sponsorship from Biogen
Biosimilars in ophthalmology are on Canada’s horizon, however critical gaps in clinical guidelines and patient education must urgently be addressed in order to ensure emerging policies on biosimilars are founded upon person-centredness, access and safety.
Webinar Recording
