WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines will have an open webinar this Thursday, February 16th at 3:30 p.m. EST, focusing on biologic medicines and pharmacovigilance.  Dr. Richard Dolinar, a practicing endocrinologist and Chairman of the Alliance, will also discuss the newly released FDA draft guidances for manufacturers of biosimilar medicines. 

Webinar III: Pharmacovigilance: What is it and why is it important?  will cover the following topics:

• An overview of the FDA draft guidances
• What is pharmacovigilance
• Track & Trace systems for biologic medicines
• Coding, Naming, Labeling
• Down the Road: Interchangeability and Drug Substitution

This webinar is part of a larger education campaign by the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines designed to address issues surrounding the introduction of biosimilar drugs.  The inaugural webinar in the series profiled biologic medicine, and the second webinar discussed biosimilars and the policy considerations around their manufacturing and implementation. To learn more about our Webinar Series visit www.safebiologics.org or email media@safebiologics.org. 

Registration for this webinar is free and available at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/947688560

About the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines
The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) is an organization composed of diverse healthcare groups and individuals from patients to physicians, innovative medical biotechnology companies, and others who are working together to ensure patient safety is at the forefront of the biosimilars policy discussion.  We serve as an authoritative resource center of information for the public, medical communities, the FDA and other state and federal policymakers during the implementation of the biosimilars pathway and beyond. 

The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines provides factual information on biologic medications and advocates for policies that protect patient safety and ensure the accessibility of these products.  More information available at www.safebiologics.org.

SOURCE Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines