Earlier this month in Amsterdam, the biosimilar medicines community gathered for two significant events shaping the future of equitable healthcare in Europe: the Patient Leaders’ Workshop (2 April) and the Biosimilar Medicines Conference 2025 (3–4 April), both organised by Medicines for Europe. A common theme ran through both: placing patients at the centre of biosimilar policy and practice.

At the Patient Leaders’ Workshop, advocates from across Europe launched the Patient Policy Impact Scorecards project. Built around four core pillars—equity, engagement, accessibility, and transparency—the initiative aims to support patient organisations in assessing national policies, guiding advocacy, and improving care outcomes. Participants worked collaboratively to define the scorecard framework and share good practice examples, laying the foundation for meaningful impact across 2025–2026.

The conference (BIOS25) featured robust discussions on biosimilar uptake, pricing models, and integration with advanced therapies such as Cell & Gene Therapies. Speakers from the European Commission, EMA, national health authorities, and international regulators explored policy solutions to ensure biosimilars help deliver both health impact and system sustainability.

A standout moment was the session “Turning potential into action – Biosimilar repurposing and combination therapies reshape accessibility and transform outcomes.” The panel highlighted the growing role of biosimilars in oncology, including their use in combination therapies that improve access and treatment possibilities.

Zorana Maravic, CEO of Digestive Cancers Europe, delivered a compelling message: biosimilar savings must be reinvested in improving patient access and care pathways. Her intervention reinforced DiCE’s ongoing commitment to equitable and sustainable cancer care.

Author:

Nikola Mihinjač