A blended education program designed by Springer Healthcare IME, in collaboration with Dr Paul Cornes and Dr Michael Muenzberg, for all medical oncologists, specialist nurses and allied healthcare professionals (HCPs) working with patients for whom biosimilars may represent a treatment option.
Despite their promise, the uptake, and therefore benefits, of biosimilars in oncology has been slower than expected. A key barrier to their uptake is healthcare professional unfamiliarity with the concept of biosimilarity. Despite an increase in medical education, there are several clinical and non-clinical factors that contribute to a lack of confidence among HCPs.
This program aims to provide you with a better understanding of the biosimilar development process and extrapolation of indications concept, and to help improve your confidence in prescribing biosimilars to your patients. Our goal is to focus on the key issues from your point of view in order to support you in resolving and overcoming these barriers.
This expert authored eLearning module focuses on the importance of analytical data during the development process of biosimilars. It also provides a brief overview of the data requirements for approval of these products in Europe.
eLearning modules
A range of 6 eLearning modules will focus on various aspects of biosimilars in oncology through a combination of expert video interviews and engaging assessment tools to effectively relay messages and gauge learner knowledge.
The eLearning modules will include the following hot topics:
- Data analytics
- Extrapolation of indications
- Key issues affecting clinician, nurse and patient confidence
- Patient communication
Webcast
A filmed expert panel discussion. As the use of biosimilars is advanced further in the rheumatology setting, a specialist rheumatologist will share their insights and experiences with leading oncologists to debate the potential issues arising for oncology HCPs in the near future.
On completion of the eLearning modules and webcast, you will be able to:
- Explain the analytical process in the development of biosimilars and the concept of extrapolation of indications;
- Gain confidence in the use of biosimilars and build confidence amongst their peers, with the support of rheumatologist advice;
- Debate the best practice in patient communication in initiation or switching to a biosimilar product.
Dr Paul Cornes
Oncologist, Comparative Outcomes Group, Bristol, UK
Dr Paul Cornes (BM BCH MA MRCP FRCR) has trained in Medicine at Oxford University and in Oncology at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK before becoming a Consultant Oncologist in Bristol, UK.
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He is part of the steering group for the European School of Oncology Working Party on the Access to Innovation in Cancer Treatment. He was faculty for the annual ECCO European CanCer Organisation meeting and ESMO-Barcelona – speaking on Innovation and Value based medicine.
Paul was part of the team that developed and presented evidence to the Oncology Advisory drugs Committee of the FDA for the first successfully approved US biosimilar. He is faculty for the Continuing Medical Education programme of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists for 2016, 2017 & 2018 and a Core Lecturer for the European School of Oncology.
He is part of the British Medical Journal “Round Table” group on Biosimilars as well as a faculty member for the DIA Regulators Meeting on Biosimilars. He has been an adviser on medicines and biosimilars policy to several national health systems – both in the EU and beyond.
Disclosure information
In the last 2 years, Paul Cornes has received travel costs to attend meetings and/or received speaker fees from Accord Healthcare; Astro; Biogen; the European Commission; the Global Academy of Health Sciences; GBM-Australia; Mylan, Napp; Pfizer/Hospira; Sandoz.
Dr Michael Muenzberg
Dr Michael Muenzberg is an independent consultant for biosimilars and biotech related topics and member of the Comparative Outcomes Group.
He received his M.D. degree from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria and he did his clinical training in Austria, Canada, South Africa and Sweden. Dr Muenzberg is licensed in Nuclear Medicine and has worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry with biotech compounds for 20 years, including the last 14 years as Global Medical Executive Biosimilars for Sandoz, Merck Serono and Amgen.
This program has been made possible thanks to an independent educational grant from Pfizer.
The webcast is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME).
Email: IME@springer.com
Springer Healthcare IME
The Campus, 4 Crinan Street
London, N1 9XW, UK
r Huub Schellekens MD, PhD is emeritus professor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. He studied medicine at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, The Netherlands ( 1967-1973), where he also did his training in Medical Microbiology (1976-1980) and received his PhD. in 1980.