Vizient, Inc. Submits Comments To The FDA About Biosimilar Interchangeability, Looks Forward To Working Toward Lowering Drug Costs

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On May 19, 2017, Vizient, Inc. submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its notice “Considerations on Demonstration Interchangeability with a Reference Product.”

Vizient appreciates the FDA’s ongoing development and implementation of the provisions of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCI Act). Vizient fully supports the introduction and adoption of biosimilars as safe and effective alternatives to originator biologics, and continues to provide education to its member health care organizations, pharmacists, physicians and other clinicians to minimize barriers to product acceptance.

“We appreciate FDA’s thoughtful approach, commitment to increased awareness of biologic manufacturing and regulatory principles, and application of scientifically based decision-making in the introduction of biosimilar medications,” says Steven Lucio, associate vice president, pharmacy services at Vizient. “We applaud the Agency’s efforts in continuing to define key aspects of biosimilar approvals through stakeholder engagement, evaluating the BPCI Act statute, and planning the necessary steps toward implementation.”

To see a full copy of Vizient’s letter with its recommendations and suggestions, please click here.

Vizient is the nation’s largest health care performance improvement company serving a diverse membership that includes academic medical centers, pediatric facilities, community hospitals, integrated health care delivery networks and non-acute health care providers.

About Vizient, Inc.

Vizient, Inc., the largest member-driven health care performance improvement company in the country, provides innovative data-driven solutions, expertise and collaborative opportunities that lead to improved patient outcomes and lower costs. Vizient’s diverse membership base includes academic medical centers, pediatric facilities, community hospitals, integrated health delivery networks and non-acute health care providers and represents more than $100 billion in annual purchasing volume. The Vizient brand identity represents the integration of VHA Inc., University HealthSystem Consortium and Novation, which combined in 2015, as well as MedAssets’ Spend and Clinical Resource Management (SCM) segment, including Sg2, which was acquired in 2016. In 2017, Vizient again received a World’s Most Ethical Company designation from the Ethisphere Institute. Vizient’s headquarters are in Irving, Texas, with locations in Chicago and other cities across the United States. Please visit www.vizientinc.com as well as our newsroom, blog, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube pages for more information about the company.