Bill Text: IL HJR0035 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urges the Congress of the United States to help ensure that any new legislation allowing for approval of biosimilar drugs includes provisions to ensure that the public health is protected by adequate testing of biosimilar products and physician control over which treatments their patients receive, and that the legislation preserves the ability to create innovative and important new biotechnology therapies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-12-01 - Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HJR0035 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HJR0035-Introduced.html

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HJ0035 LRB096 11869 KXB 22800 r
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is at the center of rapid
development of life science discoveries that can fuel a dynamic
economic engine for this State; and
WHEREAS, Biotechnology has played a key role in the
emergence of our State as a global leader in the discovery of
treatments for diseases that were previously thought
untreatable; and
WHEREAS, The medical value of biotechnology medicines to
patients' lives is incalculable; and
WHEREAS, When the patents on complex biologic drugs expire,
it is common for other manufacturers to produce "biosimilar"
products; and
WHEREAS, Given the complexity of biologic drugs, it is
widely scientifically accepted that biosimilar products are
usually not chemically or therapeutically identical to the
original product, and therefore the use of biosimilar products
should remain subject to the discretion and professional
judgment of the prescribing physician; and
WHEREAS, The legislature also wishes to ensure that federal

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legislation adequately protects patient safety; and
WHEREAS, The discovery and development of biologics is
expensive and time-consuming, and federal legislation to allow
for the arrival of biosimilars should preserve appropriate
financial incentives for innovation; and
WHEREAS, The legislature wishes to ensure that our State's
biotechnology industry remains economically viable while
producing needed innovative therapies for patients; and
WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes that the approval of
biosimilars may provide cost savings for patients and represent
an additional option for health care treatment for our State's
residents; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the United States
Congress to help ensure that any new legislation allowing for
approval of biosimilar drugs includes provisions to ensure that
the public health is protected by adequate testing of
biosimilars and physician control over which treatments their
patients receive, and that the legislation preserves the
ability to create innovative and important new biotechnology
therapies; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
delivered to each member of Illinois' congressional
delegation.