GPhA, BIO compromise on interchangeability

The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) have agreed to introduce the same proposal to state legislatures next year concerning the substitution of interchangeable biologics for branded biologics. The final compromise proposal removes language opposed by GPhA that would have required pharmacies both to notify prescribing physicians of a substitution and obtain written patient consent for a substitution prior to dispensing an interchangeable biologic. Instead, according to GPhA, physicians now must be notified after the biologic is dispensed, and patient consent would not be required.

BIO maintains that prescribing physicians must be informed if biologics are substituted in order to appropriately assess a patient's experience and further treatment options. ...