British Biosimilars Association
The British Biosimilars Association (BBA) is the expert sector group of Medicines UK exclusively focused on biosimilars. The group's objective is to increase awareness and understanding of these critical medicines. The BBA focuses on maintaining a sustainable environment for biosimilars so that more patients can access biological treatments while providing significant savings to NHS budgets.
Who we are
The BBA membership comprises a wide group of manufacturers active in the development and production of biosimilar medicines.
BBA members supply biosimilar medicines approved to the same high standards of safety, quality and efficacy as the originator or reference products. As industry experts, we partner with patients' representatives, healthcare professionals, regulators and payors to increase understanding and to drive a sustainable environment for the development, production and optimised use of biosimilar medicines across the UK.
In late 2024, the BBA and NHS England entered into a formal collaboration to improve biosimilar uptake in England by agreeing to address issues that both parties felt needed change and improvement. Activity is undertaken via four workstreams: horizon scanning, procurement, clinician knowledge and information, and regulatory (covering both MHRA and NICE).
In each workstream, BBA members and the secretariat, NHSE Medicines Value and Access colleagues, procurement hospital pharmacists, and regulatory colleagues from MHRA and NICE work together to develop problem statements with a series of defined outcomes.
The programme is due to finish at the end of 2026 and forms a significant part of the BBA's overall work plan.
Our activity and approach
The BBA is dedicated to furthering confidence in and education on the benefits of biosimilars for the NHS, patients and healthcare professionals. To this end, we set out clear policy positions on a range of topics to advance the understanding and rapid adoption of biosimilar medicines and signpost stakeholders to authoritative resources in support of this goal.
We work alongside the government, the MHRA, NHS England, NICE, professional groups and industry colleagues, including ABPI, and other key stakeholders in developing relevant educational materials.
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