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HJ0035 |
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LRB096 11869 KXB 22800 r |
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| HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is at the center of rapid |
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| development of life science discoveries that can fuel a dynamic |
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| economic engine for this State; and
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| WHEREAS, Biotechnology has played a key role in the |
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| emergence of our State as a global leader in the discovery of |
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| treatments for diseases that were previously thought |
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| untreatable; and
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| WHEREAS, The medical value of biotechnology medicines to |
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| patients' lives is incalculable; and
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| WHEREAS, When the patents on complex biologic drugs expire, |
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| it is common for other manufacturers to produce "biosimilar" |
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| products; and
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| WHEREAS, Given the complexity of biologic drugs, it is |
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| widely scientifically accepted that biosimilar products are |
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| usually not chemically or therapeutically identical to the |
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| original product, and therefore the use of biosimilar products |
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| should remain subject to the discretion and professional |
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| judgment of the prescribing physician; and
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| WHEREAS, The legislature also wishes to ensure that federal |
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HJ0035 |
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LRB096 11869 KXB 22800 r |
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| legislation adequately protects patient safety; and
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| WHEREAS, The discovery and development of biologics is |
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| expensive and time-consuming, and federal legislation to allow |
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| for the arrival of biosimilars should preserve appropriate |
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| financial incentives for innovation; and
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| WHEREAS, The legislature wishes to ensure that our State's |
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| biotechnology industry remains economically viable while |
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| producing needed innovative therapies for patients; and
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| WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes that the approval of |
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| biosimilars may provide cost savings for patients and represent |
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| an additional option for health care treatment for our State's |
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| residents; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
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| NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE |
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| SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the United States |
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| Congress to help ensure that any new legislation allowing for |
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| approval of biosimilar drugs includes provisions to ensure that |
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| the public health is protected by adequate testing of |
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| biosimilars and physician control over which treatments their |
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| patients receive, and that the legislation preserves the |
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| ability to create innovative and important new biotechnology |
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| therapies; and be it further
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