Access to safe and affordable medications has long been a priority of the National Consumers League (NCL). It is especially important now as consumers increasingly rely on pharmaceutical and biotechnology products to enhance and prolong their lives. Due both to increased utilization and product costs, the amount consumers spend on these therapeutics has increased significantly in the last decade. 

The generic pharmaceutical market provides some financial relief for consumers and health care payers by enabling the production and sale of functionally equivalent products once the term of the brand patent has expired. Generic drugs contain the same active ingredients as their branded counterparts, and provide cost-savings for consumers and health care payers. Unlike traditional pharmaceutical drugs that are made from chemicals, biologic drugs are made from more complex proteins (live, organic matter). Examples of biologic drugs include insulin and some drugs used in treatments for cancer and multiple sclerosis. At present, there is no similar mechanism within the Food and Drug Administration for reviewing and approving biosimilar biologics. Given the complexities of the issue, Congress and the public continue to debate whether and how a pathway should be established to create biosimilar biologics.

NCL convened a forum on September 18, 2007 to provide policy makers and other stakeholder organizations with the opportunity to engage in an open and candid discussion on this issue. Over 40 participants representing broad interests, including consumer and patient advocacy groups, health care providers, government, industry, and others, attended the half day forum. The gathering featured two panels, plus a legislative overview and concluded with a lunch speaker.  

View our conference-related materials