WBCPC brings the patient perspective to Biosimilar Medicines Conference 2026

Today, at the Biosimilar Medicines Conference 2026 in Amsterdam, our Executive Director, Alex Filicevas, spoke on behalf of the bladder cancer patient community during the session “EU Biosimilar Strategy: Synergies between Horizon Scanning and Capacity Building”.

Organised by Medicines for Europe, the conference brought together all interested stakeholders from across Europeand beyond to discuss the future of biosimilar medicines and how they can help improve access for patients and strengthen healthcare systems.

Alex joined a panel of experts including Marcus Guardian from the International Horizon Scanning Initiative (IHSI, Switzerland), Aurelio Arias from IQVIA (Spain), Sabine Vogler from GOEG Austria and the AUGMENT project (Austria), and Isabel del Río Álvarez, Deputy Director of BioSim Spain (Spain), with the discussion moderated by Kalveer Flora from Medicines for Europe (Belgium). Together, the panel explored how health systems, healthcare professionals, patient organisations, and policymakers can work together to ensure biosimilars translate into real patient benefit.

Representing the patient perspective, Alex highlighted why patients must be involved from the beginning of biosimilar preparedness discussions, rather than being informed only after decisions have already been made. He stressed that patient trust, education and communication are essential for the successful implementation of biosimilars in clinical practice.

Speaking from the bladder cancer perspective, Alex also highlighted the importance of preparing health systems ahead of upcoming pembrolizumab biosimilars expected in the next few years. He explained that biosimilars could help reduce treatment costs and create opportunities to expand access to transformative therapies for patients with advancedbladder cancer across Europe.

The panel also discussed how savings generated through biosimilar uptake should be reinvested into broadening eligible patient populations, funding innovative therapies and combinations, and removing reimbursement barriers that currently delay access across European countries.

Throughout the discussion, speakers also addressed the importance of shared decision-making, patient confidence during treatment switching, healthcare professional education, and stronger coordination between EU-level initiatives and national healthcare systems.

WBCPC is proud to continue bringing the patient voice to important international discussions on equitable access to treatment, health literacy, and the future of cancer care in Europe.

Learn more about the conference here.