19 October 2017

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) Board today announces the resignation of CEO Belinda Wood.

Ms Wood is well known within the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry, having been with the association for the past five years, and its CEO since 2014. She was pivotal in the signing of, and subsequent extension to, the strategic agreement with Government. This helped position the GBMA as the premier association for biosimilars and generic medicines, delivering important generic price increases aimed at securing continuity of supply for Australian patients for everyday medicines.  GBMA’s enhanced reputation with Government has enabled GBMA to have a ‘seat at the table’ for policy ongoing discussions.

“It has been an honour to lead GBMA as its CEO for the past 3 years. When I took the role, my focus was to deliver certainty for the generic and biosimilar medicines industry, to increase the use of affordable medicines and to secure a predictable market access pathway for biosimilars,” said GBMA CEO Belinda Wood.

“Having achieved those goals, and securing and extending the strategic agreement with Government, the time is right for me to look for the next opportunity knowing I leave the GBMA well placed for the future,” she said.

“Belinda has steered the GBMA through its most significant period of change. Her collaborative leadership and personal integrity has seen GMiA evolve into the GBMA we know today. The GBMA Board thanks her for her strong performance, her commitment to the GBMA and its members, and we wish her the very best in the future,” said GBMA Chair Allan Tillack.

GBMA will now look to recruit a new executive to lead the association through its next phase in implementing the key elements of the extended strategic agreement.

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4 September 2017

Juno Pharmaceuticals is the newest member of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), the peak industry body representing companies that manufacture, supply and export generic and biosimilar medicines.

Following the signing of its first Strategic Agreement with the Australian Government in 2015, GBMA’s strong leadership and advocacy resulted in an extension to that Agreement through a landmark compact in May 2017.

“The extension of our Strategic Agreement with the Australian Government cements GBMA as a key stakeholder within the pharmaceutical sector. We provide a united voice of representation for our members and are proud to work collaboratively with government on issues regarding generic and biosimilar medicines,” said GBMA Chair, Allan Tillack.

“The addition of Juno to the GBMA membership recognises the strength and leadership of GBMA. I welcome Juno as our newest member and look forward to again working with former GBMA Chair, Mark Crotty,” he said.                                   

Juno CEO and Managing Director Mark Crotty said: “Following Juno’s launch in 2013, we have established a base in Melbourne and a presence across Australia and New Zealand. Joining GBMA is part of Juno’s plan for growth and enables us to engage on policy development issues such as medicines shortages, sustaining generic prices and the evolution of the biosimilars sector.”

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28 August 2017

Support from the Australian Government to raise the quality of pharmaceutical patents, as outlined in its response to the Productivity Commission inquiry into intellectual property arrangements, is welcomed by the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA).

GBMA specifically welcomes the Government’s decision to further define the inventive step which will improve patent quality and align with international best practice, as well as a decision to abolish the failed innovation patent system.

“GBMA remains highly supportive of genuine innovation and the use of patents to encourage the discovery of new medical treatments. Intellectual property protection should be firmly focussed at the cutting edge of innovation and not merely used as a commercial strategy to deny market entry for competitors,” GBMA CEO, Belinda Wood said.

“GBMA has long advocated for action to redress the imbalance in Australia’s pharmaceutical patent system, and this is not the first inquiry to recommend significant reform to pharmaceutical intellectual property in Australia,”

“That many of the recommendations made by the Productivity Commission reflect similar reform proposals from other inquiries including the 2012 Raising the Bar Initiative, the 2013 Pharmaceutical Patents Review, and the 2015 ACIP Innovation Patent System Review, tells us there are clearly issues that need to be addressed,”

“However, it is also clear the Government recognises the complexity of implementing significant intellectual property reform, particularly as it relates to extension of patent terms and international trade agreements,”

“GBMA therefore stands ready to work with the Government and the broader medicines sector through the next consultation phase. We look forward to discussing ways to improve the patent system and navigate a sensible way forward that balances access to new innovations whilst ensuring affordable medicines for all Australians.” said Ms Wood.

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8 June 2017

Highlighting the important role of the Australian generic and biosimilar medicines industry and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in making medicines affordable, this new report lists all generic and biosimilar medicines registered in 2016.

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) today welcomes the release of Generic and biosimilar prescription medicines: TGA annual summary 2016, the first publicly available annual summary of all new generic and biosimilar prescription medicines registered in Australia. It complements other summaries published by the TGA on the registration of new chemical entities.

“Every new generic and biosimilar medicine approved by the TGA provides an opportunity to make medicines more affordable and accessible for Australian patients,” said GBMA CEO Belinda Wood.

The report outlines that in 2016, the TGA evaluated 114 submissions which resulted in the registration of 73 discrete active ingredients, and 20 ‘first generic’ medicines across a range of therapeutic areas.

“In 2016, new generic and biosimilar medicines were approved for a wide range of medical conditions, increasing patient access to life-changing treatments for hepatitis C, HIV, asthma, depression and cancer, just to name a few,”

“That 114 submissions were evaluated in 12 months demonstrates the importance of a competitive generic and biosimilar medicines industry in bringing these medicines to market,”

“As every ‘first generic’ approved by the TGA delivers an immediate 16% saving when listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), this report shows there were 20 new savings opportunities just in 2016. These savings support health innovation, medical research and development, and the sustainability of our healthcare system,”

“GBMA appreciates the vital role TGA has in ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of all medicines registered in Australia, including new chemical entities, generic and biosimilar medicines,”

“As the TGA continually monitors the safety of prescription medicines once they become available on the market, Australian patients, prescribers and pharmacists can be confident of the quality, safety and efficacy of all generic and biosimilar medicines registered in Australia,” she said.

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9 May 2017

GBMA welcomes confirmation in the 2017 Budget of the significant and ongoing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) savings provided by generic and biosimilar medicines, initiatives to increase the use of affordable medicines, and a two-year extension to the Strategic Agreement between the Commonwealth and GBMA.

The biosimilar uptake drivers, amendments to price disclosure and enhancements to prescribing software announced tonight are the direct outcomes of collaborative discussions between GBMA and the Government through the Generic Medicines Working Group (GMWG).

“Collaboration through the GMWG has led to the development of important measures announced tonight to ensure a sustainable PBS, increase patient access to affordable medicines, and support the viability of the industry that supplies them,” GBMA Chair, Allan Tillack said.

“GBMA supports measures to increase biosimilar uptake which are essential in the formation of a functioning and competitive biosimilars market, delivering PBS savings and increasing patient access to these life-changing treatments,”

GBMA welcomes the two-year extension to the 2015 Strategic Agreement as this will enable ongoing, constructive dialogue that will further support a sustainable PBS, as well as provide an extended period of certainty and predictability for the generic and biosimilar medicines sector.

With the shared principles of stewardship of the health system, GBMA thanks the Health Minister, the Hon Greg Hunt, his staff and Department of Health officials for their approach to discussions that have resulted in tonight’s announcement.

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