Biologics have been a treatment option for patients living with disabling and life-threatening chronic diseases for more than 24 years. Today, there are biosimilar versions of originator biologics available to people living with these health challenges. Fifty-five biosimilar biologics are currently approved by Health Canada for chronic diseases, including inflammatory arthritis, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and age-related macular degeneration.

Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) has been a leader in biosimilars policy development discussions since 2009, sharing information with stakeholders across Canada through free research-based workshops, webinars and education programs. Drawing from this experience, ACE has created the Biosimilars•Exchange, an information hub for consumers to get the latest biosimilars news and background analysis.

With this research-based information and education, patients can have a full therapy conversation with their rheumatologist (or other disease specialist) to best decide on their choice of medication, including originator biologic or biosimilar biologic.

Biosimilars have a positive effect for both the healthcare system and patients; they can broaden access for patients who need advanced therapy and address the significant and growing cost of biologics.  

As biosimilars research data continues to be published and policies regulating them evolve, ACE is meeting with public and private drug plan decision makers to advocate for biosimilar cost savings to be reinvested to improve models of care for patients living with complex chronic diseases.