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Medicines Australia and the Generic & Biosimilar Medicines Association granted interim authorisation by the ACCC

By

3 April 2020

Canberra, ACT

In an important collaborative step, Medicines Australia (MA) and the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) have today been granted ACCC Authorisation to permit discussions and the implementation of strategies that support the continued supply of essential medicines and associated supplies to Australians, including those urgently needed for the treatment of COVID-19.

This authorisation reflects the critical need to stabilise and manage the supply of medicines which has seen unprecedented demand in recent weeks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maintaining the supply of essential medicines to Australians who rely on them is the industry’s utmost priority as we face one of the biggest global health challenges of our time.

Medicines Australia Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth de Somer welcomed this decision by the ACCC.

“Today’s authorisation underscores the importance of an integrated supply chain for our medicines and I thank the GBMA for working alongside us in addressing the challenges we are now facing as a result of COVID-19.”

“It is essential that we pursue every possible strategy that supports the delivery of medicines into the hands of Australian patients. We must be focussed and tireless in our effort,” said Ms de Somer.

“We have a critical role to play in the urgent response to this rapidly evolving health crisis. But to succeed it requires the Australian healthcare delivery system to work together, including with Government, in a highly collaborative and open manner,” states Dr Anna Lavelle, Chair, Medicines Australia.

“Companies are working around the clock to monitor and assess supplies, at a local and global level, to ensure they can get to where they are needed,” added Dr Lavelle.

“We welcome this important authorisation by the ACCC to allow industry, extending to non- members of the associations, to work together now and facilitate the efficient and effective management of medicine supplies for Australian patients during this critical and challenging time,” comments Marnie Peterson CEO, Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association.

“Every measure we can put in place to assist in the treatment of COVID-19 while also supporting the ongoing supply of essential medicines to Australians must be implemented and we are extremely pleased the ACCC have approved our request.” said Ms Peterson.

Both Medicines Australia and the GBMA are working in close partnership with the Federal, State and Territory Governments and the local healthcare community to respond to and manage the supply of medicines – both within Australia and also shipment of supplies into the country.

As the peak bodies for medicines in Australia, Medicines Australia and the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association stand ready to protect Australians in these uncertain times.

The details outlined by the ACCC provides specific guidelines around the sharing and exchange of information relating to the supply of prescription medicines together with general arrangements and agreements.

Full details can be found here.

More information:
Jannette Cotterell
Executive Counsel Australia
0419 204 059
jcotterell@executivecounsel.com.au

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ABOUT GBMA
The GBMA is the national association representing companies that manufacture, supply and export generic and biosimilar medicines. GBMA represents all major generic medicine suppliers in Australia, accounting for more than 90% of all generic medicines dispensed in Australia. Members of GBMA ensure all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, which provide affordable health outcomes that benefit all Australians. Members of GBMA take seriously their role in the responsible provision of affordable medicines in Australia, as stipulated in the National Medicines Policy. The generic and biosimilar medicines sector is a high value-add sector delivering significant health and economic benefits to the Australian public. The availability of generic medicines in this country helps to deliver:

– Timely access to affordable medicines;
– Substantial savings to the PBS;
– Thousands of highly skilled jobs; and
– Domestic manufacturing and annual exports of around $300 million.

For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au or visit www.gbma.com.au

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The supply of vital medicines is our priority

By

6 March 2020

Canberra, ACT

Canberra: Australia’s peak body for generic and biosimilar medicines is urgently working with its members and the Australian Government to minimise the disruption of any potential medicine shortages arising from the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Chair of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicine Association (GBMA), Mr Sylvain Vigneault, congratulated the Commonwealth Government for moving at a rapid pace to ensure Australia is as well prepared as any country can be, against the unpredictable economic and health impacts of the virus.

“Australia has a great health system and a world class supply chain of safe and affordable medicines,” Mr Vigneault said. “Australians need to know that our members are working around the clock to do what we can, where we can, to ensure all Australians can continue to access safe and affordable medicines.”

Mr Vigneault said the GBMA is working with other key industry stakeholders, to identify and mitigate potential medicine supply risks. With the largest volume percentage of medicines on the PBS being generic products, GBMA members are accelerating their internal processes, including working with global supply chains to secure supply for Australian patients.

GBMA also leads an industry-government working sub-group that focuses on the causes of medicine shortages and the supply chain. The group includes pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the Department of Health.

Mr Vigneault joins the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, to urge Australians not to ‘panic purchase’ and stockpile medicines.

“Disruptions to global supply chains are often out of our control but Australians should be reassured that their health and wellbeing is our priority,” he said.

“We are reassured by statements from Prime Minister and Minister for Health that Australia is exceptionally well prepared to manage this virus in a responsible and cautious way,” Mr Vigneault said.

GBMA advises Australians who are concerned about the availability of their medicines to check the TGA website link and to discuss their concerns with their pharmacist.

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ABOUT GBMA
The GBMA is the national association representing companies that manufacture, supply and export generic and biosimilar medicines. GBMA represents all major generic medicine suppliers in Australia, accounting for more than 90% of all generic medicines dispensed in Australia. Members of GBMA ensure all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, which provide affordable health outcomes that benefit all Australians. Members of GBMA take seriously their role in the responsible provision of affordable medicines in Australia, as stipulated in the National Medicines Policy. The generic and biosimilar medicines sector is a high value-add sector delivering significant health and economic benefits to the Australian public. The availability of generic medicines in this country helps to deliver:

– Timely access to affordable medicines;
– Substantial savings to the PBS;
– Thousands of highly skilled jobs; and
– Domestic manufacturing and annual exports of around $300 million.

For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au or visit www.gbma.com.au

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GBMA welcomes Fresenius Kabi Australia

By

4 October 2019

Canberra, ACT

Canberra: Australia’s peak body representing generic and biosimilar manufacturers, the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), is delighted to announce Fresenius Kabi Australia, a leading provider of IV-Generics, Infusion Therapies, Clinical Nutrition and Medical Devices in the hospital space, as its newest member.

GBMA CEO, Ms Marnie Peterson, said she is very pleased to welcome Fresenius Kabi Australia, who officially became members on October 1.

“We are pleased to announce Fresenius Kabi Australia as our newest member to the GBMA. With their experience and expertise in the medicines industry, Fresenius Kabi Australia will become a valued and valuable part of the GBMA”.

Mr Juan Villar, Managing Director of Fresenius Kabi in Australia, said he is pleased to announce the company has joined the GBMA and is looking forward to partnering with the peak body to ensure the long-term viability of generics and biosimilars in Australia.

“With our corporate philosophy of ‘caring for life’, Fresenius Kabi is committed to putting essential medicines in the hands of people, who help patients, and to find the best answers to the challenges healthcare professionals face”, Mr Villar said.

“Our philosophy is well aligned with GBMA’s objective of making high quality medicines accessible and affordable for all Australians”.

“The uptake of biosimilars in the upcoming years will play a key role in helping to reduce the healthcare expenditure whilst making state-of-the-art therapies available to a larger and increasing number of patients. We are excited to work with the industry association”, says Juan Villar.

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ABOUT GBMA
The GBMA is the national association representing companies that manufacture, supply and export generic and biosimilar medicines. GBMA represents all major generic medicine suppliers in Australia, accounting for more than 90% of all generic medicines dispensed in Australia. Members of GBMA ensure all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, which provide affordable health outcomes that benefit all Australians. Members of GBMA take seriously their role in the responsible provision of affordable medicines in Australia, as stipulated in the National Medicines Policy. The generic and biosimilar medicines sector is a high value-add sector delivering significant health and economic benefits to the Australian public. The availability of generic medicines in this country helps to deliver:

– Timely access to affordable medicines;
– Substantial savings to the PBS;
– Thousands of highly skilled jobs; and
– Domestic manufacturing and annual exports of around $300 million.

ABOUT FRESNIUS KABI AUSTRALIA
Fresenius Kabi Australia is a subsidiary of Fresenius Kabi, a global healthcare company that specialises in lifesaving medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition.

The company’s products and services are used to help care for critically and chronically ill patients. In the field of biosimilars, Fresenius Kabi develops products with a focus on oncology and autoimmune diseases.

For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au or visit www.gbma.com.au

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Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt MP encourages healthcare sector to embrace biosimilar medicines.

By

2 October 2019

Doctors, pharmacists, medical researchers, and hospital leaders attend ‘Your Patients, Your Government’  Multidisciplinary Forum and Workshop

Sydney, NSW

The Federal Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, opened a high-level forum for the health sector on Wednesday evening, by urging Australia’s health professionals to embrace more innovative ways to support the appropriate uptake of biosimilar medicines.

GBMA Education, the educational arm of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), hosted the Your Patients Your Government Multidisciplinary Forum and Workshop at the NSW Parliament on Wednesday evening, October 02.

The unique event brought together specialists, GPs, community and hospital pharmacists, private and public hospitals, patient advocacy groups and Government representatives to explore key topics for biosimilar medicines and their role in supporting the future of sustainable healthcare in Australia.

Minister Hunt delivered the keynote address and his remarks underscore the growing importance of biosimilar medicines to the national healthcare framework.

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, welcomed the forum, saying it was a “co-operative endeavour to deliver better health for all Australians.”

“The Government is committed to working closely with the GBMA and the health care sector, to support a robust generic and biosimilar sector for the benefit of all Australians now and into the future,” Minister Hunt said.

Mr Hunt’s call for a deeper understanding of the economic benefits to be gained from this emerging class of medicines led into a series of robust panel discussions with health officials and health professionals on how best to consider biosimilar medicines in our healthcare system to drive uptake, where appropriate for Australian patients.

The opening sessions and keynote address for the Your Patients Your Government forum were also livestreamed nationally to the broader healthcare sector.

GBMA Education Chief Executive Officer, Ms Marnie Peterson, praised Mr Hunt’s commitment to support the biosimilar medicines sector and said education was just one of the tools available to patients, their healthcare professionals, and hospitals to drive uptake of biosimilar medicines.

“We all have an important role to play in ensuring that biosimilar medicines deliver to their full potential, to support the sustainability of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme allowing all Australians greater, and more affordable, access to innovative medicines,” Ms Peterson said.

“We are genuinely pleased to be able to work with the Government and so many health professionals and patients to deepen understanding and drive confidence about biosimilar medicines.”

GBMA Education acknowledges the provision of funding by the Australian Government for this event.

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Event Summary

Your Patients, Your Government Multidisciplinary Forum and Workshop for biosimilar medicines:
The three panels covered:

  • Tracking and traceability, and pharmacovigilance
  • Patient centric care and the ‘human factor’
  • Health economics and sustainability of the PBS.

Panellists for the event include:

  • Ms Penny Shakespeare, Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Health Financing
  • Adj. Prof, John Skerritt, Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Health Products Regulation
  • Prof. Stephen Clarke, Medical oncologist at the Northern Cancer Institute and Royal North Shore Hospital, Director of Cancer Services at Northern Sydney Local Health District and Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney
  • A/Prof Simone Strasser, President of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (commencing October 2019)
  • A/Prof Andrew Miller, Immediate Past President of the Australasian College of Dermatologists
  • Dr Mona Marabani, Past President of the Australian Rheumatology Association and Co-Chair of the Biosimilars Working Group
  • Dr Simon Ghaly, Head of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Service and Staff Specialist at St. Vincent’s Hospital and patient representative
  • Dr Harry Nespolon, President Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
  • A/Prof. Michael Ward, Discipline Leader: Pharmacy Education, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia
  • David Ford, Executive Director Pharmacy and Redevelopment, North East Health.

 

Further information

For further information on biosimilar medicines and Grant activities, please visit www.biosimilarhub.com.au or contact the GBMA Education team via email: admin@gbmaeducation.com.au

 

Media enquiries

Please contact Cube Public Relations in the first instance via: GBMAmediaenquiries@cube.com.au or M: 0402 994 120 (Kelly Smith) / 0417 421 560 (Anne-Marie Sparrow).

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GBMA welcomes new appointment to the Board

By

30 September 2019

Canberra, ACT

The nation’s peak body for generic and biosimilar medicines, the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), is delighted to announce Ms Lisa Golden’s appointment as the organisation’s newest Board director.

Ms Golden has more than 15 years commercial pharmaceutical experience and was recently appointed to the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer for Arrotex Pharmaceuticals, responsible for commercial strategy and implementation.

The GBMA Chief Executive Officer, Ms Marnie Peterson, welcomed Ms Golden’s appointment, saying her experience in the pharmaceutical sector was a valuable asset to the GBMA Board.

Ms Golden is very well known and well respected within the industry.  Having spent the last six years at an executive level in both generic and branded pharmaceuticals, she has been responsible for shaping, influencing and implementing business strategy and the broader industry landscape.

“The wealth of knowledge and experience that Ms Golden brings to the table is a huge benefit to the GBMA and we are delighted with her appointment to the Board.” Ms Peterson said.

Ms Golden joins the GBMA Board at an important time.  The sustainability of the health system has never been more important, and generic and biosimilar medicines play a critically important role in the future of Australia’s healthcare system and underpinning the viability of the PBS.

Ms Golden will represent Apotex on the GBMA Board and Arrow will continue to be represented by its CEO, Mr Dennis Bastas.

Whilst having merged as Arrotex this year, both Apotex and Arrow will remain as separate entities, with individual representation at the Board level.

The GBMA Board is comprised of highly experienced generic and biosimilar pharmaceutical industry executives, who are collectively committed to delivering high value, high quality medicines to Australian patients, ensuring all Australians receive the best health outcomes today and into the future.

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association Executive Board

Mr Sylvain Vigneault (Chair), Mylan Australia
Mr Mark Crotty (Deputy Chair), Juno Pharmaceuticals
Mr Guy Strong, Sandoz Australia
Mr Dennis Bastas, Arrow Pharmaceuticals
Ms Lisa Golden, Apotex Australia
Dr Neill Stacey, Southern Cross Pharma

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ABOUT GBMA
The GBMA is the national association representing companies that manufacture, supply and export generic and biosimilar medicines. GBMA represents all major generic medicine suppliers in Australia, accounting for more than 90% of all generic medicines dispensed in Australia. Members of GBMA ensure all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, which provide affordable health outcomes that benefit all Australians. Members of GBMA take seriously their role in the responsible provision of affordable medicines in Australia, as stipulated in the National Medicines Policy. The generic and biosimilar medicines sector is a high value-add sector delivering significant health and economic benefits to the Australian public. The availability of generic medicines in this country helps to deliver:

– Timely access to affordable medicines;
– Substantial savings to the PBS;
– Thousands of highly skilled jobs; and
– Domestic manufacturing and annual exports of around $300 million.

For more information, please contact the GBMA – admin@gbma.com.au or visit www.gbma.com.au

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