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You are here: Home / Archives for Latest news

Patients and economy to benefit from ‘medicine manufacturing’ roadmap

March 2, 2021 By Admin

2 March 2021

Canberra, ACT

Australia’s peak body for affordable medicines, today welcomed the Government’s launch of its Medicine-Medical Product Manufacturing Road Map, describing it as an exciting opportunity to build Australia’s capability as an advanced manufacturer and exporter of high quality and safe medicines.

The independent Chair of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), Ms Jane Halton AO, today applauded the initiative which is part of the Government’s $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI), announced before the last budget.

GBMA, and its members, have been working closely with the Government, and other key stakeholders, to protect patients against any disruption to the international medicine supply chains, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

“Now, as we navigate through this destructive global pandemic, the Government has recognised that the medicines sector can, and should be, a priority enabler of our long term economic recovery,” Ms Halton said.

The Government’s road map outlines ‘investing in highly efficient and automated facilities could offer Australia some opportunities to manufacture certain generics and biosimilars.’

Board member and founding Chair of the largest Australian-owned pharmaceutical company Arrotex, Mr Dennis Bastas, was a key member of the Minister for Industry’s medicine manufacturing taskforce.

“We know medicine manufacturing has long been a sector slowly disappearing from our shores but with the advanced technology, innovation, the right policy levers, funding and industry will; we can see a vibrant and burgeoning home-grown, export-driven pharmaceutical sector develop again,” Mr Bastas said.

GBMA CEO, Ms Marnie Peterson, welcomed the innovative collaboration that the roadmap inspired.

“This roadmap recognises that Australia needs to build its own sovereign medicine manufacturing capability whilst ensuring patients can still access a reliable and resilient global supply chain of medicines,” Ms Peterson said.

We look forward to working closely with the Government in ensuring both outcomes can be achieved to the benefit of our economy and our citizens.”

For more information about the Government’s medicine manufacturing roadmap, please follow this link.

-ENDS-

ABOUT GBMA

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) is the peak representative body of generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia.

Its members ensure that all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, whilst providing affordable community health outcomes that benefit all Australians.

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

ENQUIRIES

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

Filed Under: News 2021

Active Ingredient Prescribing – a game changer for patients: Prescription reforms to further support patient safety

February 1, 2021 By Admin

1 February 2021

Canberra, ACT

Canberra: Australia’s patients will be the big winners out of a new law that will prioritise the active ingredient over the brand name of a medicine, for all eligible prescriptions generated under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation PBS (RPBS) prescriptions.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), Ms Marnie Peterson, said the reforms, effective from February 01 2021, will support patient safety by making it easier for patients to identify a medicine’s active ingredient and to discuss, with their prescriber or pharmacist, generic alternatives for their medications.  This is particularly valuable during times when a particular brand of medicine is in short supply.

“We congratulate the Minister for Health, Mr Greg Hunt MP, for introducing these changes that will empower patients to better understand the active ingredients of medicines, whilst reducing their out of pocket costs,” Ms Peterson said.

Active Ingredient Prescribing (AIP) aims to increase consumer understanding of their medicines, assist with health literacy and communication, and increase the uptake of generic and biosimilar medicines, whilst retaining choice for both prescribers and patients. By driving further generic and biosimilar uptake, the measure also supports the delivery of savings to an already overwhelmed health budget and is expected to improve the financial stability of the PBS.

The new Independent Chair of GBMA, Ms Jane Halton AO PSM, welcomed Australia’s Active Ingredient Prescribing laws, which brings Australia’s prescribing practices into alignment with  international standards, supporting improvements to patient safety through standardised descriptions of medicines.

“Not only is this reform a game changer for Australian patients,” Ms Halton said. “but it truly showcases the Australian Government’s commitment in empowering patients with more knowledge and a better understanding of their medicines. This is of key importance in the current COVID-19 environment.”

The implementation of the AIP reforms was negotiated by the GBMA as part of its existing strategic agreement with the Australian Government.

Jane Halton AO PSM is the Chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovationsand Co-Chair of the COVAX initiative. Ms Halton is also a member of Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Coordination Commission advisory committee. ENDS

Further information can be found online at www.pbs.gov.au/info/general/active-ingredient-prescribing

-ENDS-

ABOUT GBMA

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) is the peak representative body of generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia.

Its members ensure that all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, whilst providing affordable community health outcomes that benefit all Australians.

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

ENQUIRIES

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

Filed Under: News 2021

Announcement of Independent Chair

December 9, 2020 By Admin

9 December 2020

Canberra, ACT

Global health policy powerhouse, Jane Halton AO PSM, joins GBMA as its inaugural Independent Chair

Canberra:As Australia emerges from the current global health and economic crisis, one of the world’s most respected and experienced health policy leaders, Ms Jane Halton AO PSM, is joining Australia’s peak body for generic and biosimilar medicines, as its inaugural Independent Chair.

As the Chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Co-Chair of COVAX, Ms Halton has been laser focussed on ensuring equitable global access to a COVID-19 vaccine. However, now the former Secretary of the departments of Health and Finance, is also turning her attention to ensuring all Australian patients can continue to receive affordable and safe medicines.

“To return to my domestic health policy roots, and lead the GBMA at such a significantly important time for Australian patients and our vital healthcare community, is a challenge I am delighted to embrace,” Ms Halton said today. “As we look to the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine for our citizens, we also need to be vigilant that all Australians continue to receive the medicines they need, when they need them.”

With Australia’s health budget under extraordinary strain, Ms Halton – who has, herself, overseen 13 health budgets – said she was keen to forge a national understanding of the role generic and biosimilar medicines play as the ballast for a sustainable Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

A reliable supply of low cost, high volume generic and biosimilar medicines are needed in Australia to ensure there remains fiscal headroom on the PBS to subsidise expensive innovative medicines and offset the cost of life-saving vaccines.

CEO of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), Ms Marnie Peterson, said the GBMA board and its members, were thrilled Ms Halton will lead the peak body through an unpredictable and rapidly shifting health, policy and economic landscape.

“Jane is respected as a health and economic policy powerhouse, without peer, in Australia and globally,” Ms Peterson said today. “To end such a traumatic year with Jane as our first Independent Chair is absolutely wonderful news and we know governments, patients, clinicians, hospitals and pharmacists alike will also applaud Jane’s return to the Australian medicine policy front line.”

On behalf of the Board, Ms Peterson paid tribute to the outgoing Chair, Mr Sylvain Vigneault. Ms Peterson described Mr Vigneault’s insights, experience and support, over more than two years, as highly valued by the membership, throughout a significant time for the association and particularly during this pandemic

“All of our members have worked around the clock to protect Australia’s patients against medicine supply chain disruptions,” Ms Peterson said. “Jane joins the GBMA board at a pivotal time as we navigate through a new five year strategic agreement negotiation with the Government and help shape new national medicine policy.”

“Australia has a world class health system and our Government is an international exemplar of how to manage and mitigate the worst of this pandemic,” Ms Halton said.

“I look forward to working with my GBMA colleagues to strengthen our collaborative partnership – one that continues to prioritise all Australian patients and their families.”

-ENDS-

About Jane Halton AO PSM:
Jane Halton AO PSM is the Chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovationsand Co-Chair of the COVAX initiative.

She is a member of Australian COVID-19 Coordination Commission advisory committee, boards of ANZ, Crown, Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation.

In a 33 year career at the top of the public service, Ms Halton served as a Secretary of the Departments of Health and Finance at the federal level and was Deputy Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Ms Halton chaired the World Heath Organisation (WHO) board, was President of the World Health Assembly and was Chair of the OECD health committee.

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

–ENDS–

ABOUT GBMA

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) is the peak representative body of generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia. Its members ensure that all Australians are offered high quality generic and biosimilar medicines, whilst providing affordable community health outcomes that benefit all Australians.

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

–ENDS–

Filed Under: News 2020

Confidence in biosimilar medicines, amongst specialists, GP’s and Pharmacists

December 8, 2020 By Admin

12 November 2020

Canberra, ACT

  • New research shows prescriber confidence to switch a patient to a biosimilar medicine has more than doubled since 2016
  • Community pharmacist experience dispensing biosimilar medicines has increased by 77%
  • Over 650 healthcare professionals and consumers surveyed to measure current levels of awareness and knowledge of biological, including biosimilar medicines.

The CEO of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), Ms Marnie Peterson, said whilst GBMA members are still working through the details, it was a welcomed 2020-21 Budget and one delivered at a time of unprecedented stress imposed on Australia’s healthcare system.

New research shows a significant increase in biosimilar medicine confidence, among Australian healthcare professionals and patients. The 2020 Biosimilar Medicine Market Research Report was commissioned by the GBMA Education, as part of the Biosimilar Education Grant, and comes after the highly successful Biosimilar Awareness Week in May 2020. The results of this report act as a benchmark to a survey conducted by the Department of Health in 2016(1) as part of their Biosimilar Awareness Initiative.

Specialists
Confidence among specialists, to switch a patient to a biosimilar medicine, markedly increased by 52% (from 44% to 67%) since the 2016 Market Research Report. Overall confidence in the use of biosimilar medicines has also increased, with 82% of specialists now reporting confidence in the comparability of biosimilar medicines (up 12%) and 83% reporting confidence in prescribing biosimilar medicines (up 9% since 2016).

Community pharmacists
Since 2016, Community pharmacist experience with biosimilar medicines has increased dramatically, with a 77% increase (from 39% to 69%).
Community pharmacists also continue to showcase high levels of confidence in biosimilar medicines with 88% confidence in comparability, 86% confidence in efficacy and 84% confidence in counselling a patient on a biosimilar medicine.

General practitioners
General practitioners have the least exposure to biosimilar medicines, compared to all other surveyed healthcare profession stakeholder groups. However, GP familiarity with biosimilar medicines is on the rise with results showing a 56% increase (from 25% to 39%) since 2016. Furthermore, GP confidence has also shown notable increases with 71% of GPs reporting confidence in the comparability of biosimilar medicines (up 18%) and 69% reporting confidence in counselling a patient about biosimilar medicines (up 25%).

Hospital pharmacists
When confidence levels in the efficacy and the comparability of biosimilar medicines are compared across stakeholder groups, hospital pharmacists demonstrated the highest levels with 92% reporting confidence(2). Hospital pharmacists also report the highest confidence (90%) in dispensing biosimilar medicines.

Consumers/carers
Consumer/carers reported 80% confidence in switching to a biosimilar medicine (an increase of 7%). Consumers and carers also have a high confidence in taking biosimilar medicines, when prompted with information (81%). This is an increase of 12.5% since the 2016 survey.

Benefits of CPD accredited education
CPD accredited modules have seen a marked increase in prominence for biosimilar education since 2016 with 31% of specialists and GPs reporting CPD education as a source of their education. This is a notable shift from the 2016 results whereby no specialists or any GPs reported CPD accredited modules as a source of their education. Pharmacists’ utilisation of CPD modules has also increased by 23% (56% to 69%) since 2016.

As a leading provider of biosimilar education, the GBMA Education CPD3 portfolio demonstrates the benefit of a multi-faceted approach to education materials to suit the varying learning preferences across healthcare disciplines. With the recent launch of an Essential CPE module for pharmacists, worth up to 10 Group 2 CPD credits, GBMA Education will continue to release CPD accredited activities in the coming months with an ‘on-demand’ webinar series for Specialists, GPs and Pharmacists and a Nurse CPD module.

Furthermore, building on the success of the 2020 Biosimilar Awareness Week held in Australia, the International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) will be supporting the upcoming ‘Global Biosimilars Week’ from 16-20 November 2020. Activities will continue the momentum and online discussions to raise awareness of biosimilar medicines and their contribution to the future sustainability of healthcare systems worldwide.

For more information visit www.biosimilarhub.com.au

REFERENCES
1. Market Research for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS) and Biosimilar Medicines Quantitative Report
2. GBMA Education notes that hospital pharmacists did not form part of the 2016 market research report, therefore a direct comparison is not possible.
3. Continuing Professional Development

-ENDS-

ABOUT GBMA EDUCATION

GBMA Education is the educational arm of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), which is the representative body of generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia. GBMA Education was awarded the Biosimilar Education Grant by the Australian Government in April 2018.

The purpose of the Biosimilar Education Grant, awarded to GBMA Education by the Australian Government, is to increase confidence in the use of biosimilar brands of biological medicines that are listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). In order for biosimilar medicines to increase market competition and improve the Government’s capacity to fund expanded access to biological medicines as they become more affordable, healthcare professional acceptance and confidence about biosimilar medicines must increase.

GBMA Education acknowledges the provision of funding by the Australian Government for the Biosimilar Education Grant Program.

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: 0424 785 063 (Cameron Donald) / 0417 421 560 (Anne-Marie Sparrow).

–ENDS–

Filed Under: News 2020

IGBA Launches First Global Biosimilars Week

December 7, 2020 By Admin

16 November 2020

Geneva, Switzerland

Today the International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) launched the first ever Global Biosimilars Week, which is aimed at raising the awareness of biosimilar medicines worldwide through a globally aligned educational initiative.

IGBA Global Biosimilars Week will take place from November 16 to 20, and will be supported by a dedicated globalbiosimilarsweek.org website that contains resources and information for everyone, from patients to doctors. Biosimilars benefits, regulation, clinical use and market adoption will be covered.

“There is a wealth of information available globally about biosimilar medicines and the real-world evidence supporting their safety, efficacy and use,” explained Hanan Sboul, Chair of the IGBA. “Enhanced knowledge of biosimilar medicines will support improved access to life-saving biological treatments and support healthcare systems, which are under increasing pressure due to the rising costs of innovative treatments and the new fiscal demands created by the Covid-19 global public health crisis.”

“With this awareness campaign, the IGBA is providing a one-stop solution for anyone wanting to know more about biosimilar medicines. We invite all stakeholders to get involved and engage in the conversation by following along on social media using the hashtag #GlobalBiosimilarsWeek,” said Erika Satterwhite, Chair of the IGBA Biosimilars Committee.

IGBA member companies are the pioneers and global leaders in the development and marketing of biosimilar medicines. To date there have been more than 300 biosimilar approvals in jurisdictions representative of the IGBA’s membership, covering more than 10 therapeutic areas including oncology, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, growth disorders, nephrology, fertility and diabetes.

–ENDS–

ABOUT GBMA

For Australian specific information – visit the GBMA website www.gbma.com.au

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 and 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

–ENDS–

Filed Under: News 2020

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