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.

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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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.

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

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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.

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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New date: Sydney October 2, 2019

Canberra, ACT

GBMA Education, the educational arm of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), is pleased to announce the Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, will deliver the keynote address at the forthcoming ’Your Patients, Your Government’ Multidisciplinary Forum and Workshop for biosimilar medicines.

This key Biosimilar Grant event will now take place on October 2, 2019.

GBMA Education is honoured Minister Hunt has accepted the organised invitation to deliver the keynote address. Following this address, healthcare leaders will facilitate solution-driven discussions around key recurring topics for biosimilar medicines that have been raised across the healthcare system. The three panel discussions will cover:

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

The event provides an opportunity to bring together stakeholders from across the healthcare sector, exploring critical topics for biosimilar medicines and their role in supporting the future of sustainable healthcare in Australia.  Panellists for the event include:

• Ms Penny Shakespeare, Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Health Financing
• Dr 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.

GBMA Education looks forward to welcoming all attendees and extends an invite to the health sector to view the keynote address online via national livestream.  Please register your details at the following site –  www.eventful.com.au/gbmaeducationlive

‘GBMA Education YOUR PATIENTS, YOUR GOVERNMENT’
Date: Wednesday, 2 October 2019
Time: 6.00pm – 9.20pm AEST
LIVESTREAM: 6:45pm – 7:30pm
Location: NSW Parliament
6 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
For further information, please visit www.biosimilarhub.com.au/events

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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 was awarded the Biosimilar Education Grant by the Australian Government in April 2018 and formed GBMA Education to deliver the educational program. The purpose of the Grant is to increase confidence in the use of biosimilar brands of biological medicines that are listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Through the increased use of biosimilar medicines, the objective is to support a competitive market for biological medicines via peer-to-peer health communication activities.

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Canberra, ACT

A commitment to drive the uptake of biosimilar medicines in Australia has seen Korean biopharmaceutical company, Celltrion Healthcare, join Australia’s peak body representing generic and biosimilar manufacturers, the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA).

GBMA Chief Executive Officer, Ms Marnie Peterson, welcomed Celltrion Healthcare as the first member to join the Association’s new ‘Biosimilar Membership’.

“This is further evidence of the role that biosimilar medicines can play in ensuring a sustainable healthcare system for Australian patients, particularly for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS),” Ms Peterson said.

“Biosimilars provide a real opportunity to help manage the growing costs of new medicines such as biologics.”

“Similar to the opportunity generic medicines provide, there is an enormous potential for biosimilars to significantly reduce the pressure on the PBS while increasing patient access to safe, affordable and life changing medicines,” she said.

Mr Hyoung-Ki Kim, Vice Chairman & CEO at Celltrion Healthcare looks forward to the new partnership with GBMA.

“With the recent establishment of Celltrion Healthcare Australia Pty Ltd. in Sydney, we are excited to be a member of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA).”

“At Celltrion Healthcare, our aim is to provide the best possible treatment options for patients and healthcare providers, and by connecting with the GBMA, we look forward to engaging positively to support the uptake of biosimilar medicines in Australia as a way to alleviate pressure on its national health system.”, Mr Kim said.

The GBMA’s Biosimilar Membership looks to support the varying nature of manufacturing portfolios currently seen in market, which highlights the need for a dedicated membership structure for biosimilar manufacturers without a generic portfolio.

“The addition of our newest member underscores the evolution of GBMA’s role within the Australian healthcare framework and we welcome Celltrion Healthcare to the GBMA, joining us on the biosimilar journey in Australia.”, said Ms Peterson.

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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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