ACCC extends conditional authorisation to Medicines Australia and the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association

Australian patients, in particular those who urgently need medicines in their fight against COVID-19, are at the centre of a decision today by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to allow the Medicines Australia (MA) and the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA) to continue their collaboration.

The leadership of the two organisations today welcomed the decision by the ACCC to extend its conditional authorisation. This will enable the pharmaceutical sector to continue to work together on developing and implementing strategies that support the supply of essential medicines to all Australians.

Both the CEO of Medicines Australia, Ms Elizabeth de Somer, and the CEO of the GBMA, Ms Marnie Peterson, welcomed the ACCC’s ruling and thanked the ACCC Commissioner, Mr Rod Sims, for his support.

“Maintaining the supply of essential medicines to Australians who rely on them, is the industry’s utmost priority, especially as we face one of the biggest global health challenges of our time,” Ms de Somer said. “An integrated and informed medicines supply chain is central to this.”

“This determination will enable all medicines manufacturers to continue to coordinate their manufacturing and supply activities to deliver medicines to patients,” Ms de Somer said.

Ms de Somer said the two peak bodies will continue to exchange information to quickly mitigate any supply chain disruption and constraints. Medicines Australia and GBMA will keep working hand-in-glove with all Australian governments, to enable them to effectively respond to the global health crisis.

“This unique collaboration becomes even more critical as industry and government evolve plans to distribute an eventual COVID-19 vaccination to every Australian,” said Ms de Somer.

Marnie Peterson, CEO of the GBMA said this final conditional authorisation was a clear demonstration of the highly-engaged and productive role the sector has played in responding to the pandemic.

“Ensuring critical medicines supply for Australian patients has been essential as we respond to this health crisis and the partnership comes at a time when patients need ongoing assurance that vital medicines will be supplied, when and where they are needed.”

“Disruptions to global supply chains remain a challenge, but we have all worked around the clock to ensure that medicines continue to reach patients,” Ms Peterson said.

“We are relieved that the pressure on our medicines supply is abating, however we remain vigilant as we are still navigating ongoing freight restrictions and any potential future outbreaks of the virus,” said Ms Peterson.

The ACCC granted conditional authorisation until 30 September 2021.

ENDS.

MA and the GBMA advises Australians who are concerned about the availability of their medicines to check the TGA website and to discuss their concerns with their doctor or pharmacist or the company directly, through their customer service lines.

GBMA Education Ltd, the educational arm of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association, is pleased to confirm a successful second Biosimilar Awareness Week, which took place 25-29 May 2020, as announced by the Hon Greg Hunt, Federal Health Minister.

This year’s collaborative and digital approach for Biosimilar Awareness Week resulted in shared online information, reaching over 540,000 Australians to raise awareness around biosimilar medicines and their important role in the future of a sustainable healthcare system. Activities were focused online, where the Australian public and healthcare community supported and engaged with a social media campaign led by @BiosimilarsAu across Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

GBMA Education would like to thank everyone who pledged their support and participated in making Biosimilar Awareness Week such a success – including a broad range of healthcare professionals and stakeholder organisations from the across the medicines industry – Creaky Joints Australia, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia, NPS MedicineWise, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) and the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP), to name a few.

The Biosimilar Awareness Week forms part of a robust and collaborative Biosimilar Education Program supported by the Australian Government, who awarded GBMA Education Ltd with the Biosimilar Educational Grant in April 2018. During that same period of time, biosimilar medicines have seen an increase in uptake – from approximately 15.4% market share in 2018 to 23.9% in January 2020 as a result of the collective efforts of the wider healthcare industry.

“Biosimilar medicines are becoming increasingly available in Australia. That’s why educational initiatives like Biosimilar Awareness Week are so important – as greater understanding and use of biosimilar medicines can help support the sustainability of the Australian healthcare system”, said Marnie Peterson, GBMA Education CEO. “It is fantastic to see the success achieved this year – and building on this momentum, a range of new educational resources for biosimilar medicines are currently in development and will be made available later in the year. In addition, the International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) is looking to support a ‘Global Biosimilars Week’ expected to run later in 2020”.

As part of the broader Biosimilar Education Program for 2020, GBMA Education also look forward to shortly launching a new CPD-accredited on-demand webinar series, incorporating groups of GPs, specialists and pharmacists coming together to discuss their views, the latest insights and experiences around the use of biosimilar medicines. The series panellists include:

• Prof Geoff McColl, Rheumatologist and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland
• Prof Michelle Leech, Rheumatologist and Deputy Dean of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science Office, Monash University
• Prof Steven Boyages, Endocrinologist and Clinical Professor, Medicine at Westmead Clinical School
• Dr Harry Nespolon, General Practitioner and President, RACGP
• A/Prof Michael Ward, Hospital Pharmacist and Discipline Leader: Pharmacy education, University of South Australia Clinical and Health Sciences
• Dr Shane Jackson, Community Pharmacist and Policy Advisor, PSA
• Anthony Tassone, Community Pharmacist and President, Pharmacy Guild of Australia (Victoria)
• David Ford, Hospital Pharmacist and Executive Director of Pharmacy and Redevelopment, North East Health Wangaratta
• Catherine Bronger, Community Pharmacist and National Councillor of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia

Interested individuals are invited to register on the Biosimilar Hub to ensure they receive regular updates on the broader biosimilar grant activities:

• Healthcare professionals: biosimilarhub.com.au/register/
• Consumers: biosimilarhub.com.au/consumer/stay-in-touch/

For more information visit biosimilarhub.com.au

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Australia’s Federal Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP has officially opened Biosimilar Awareness Week for 2020, stating:

“I am pleased to once again open Biosimilar Awareness Week, an important fixture in the Australian healthcare calendar. It is important for us to consider initiatives that help to support the sustainability of the Australian healthcare system. Biosimilar medicines help to expand the sustainability of the health system, they help with affordability and access which are all immensely important outcomes from the patient’s perspective and immensely important from the systems perspective”.

2019 saw the launch of the inaugural Biosimilar Week – a new educational initiative and event for Australia’s healthcare calendar.  The 2019 Biosimilar Week focussed on supporting a nationwide conversation about biosimilar medicines with healthcare professionals and saw the launch of the Biosimilar Hub and interview series with leading healthcare professionals across Australia.

In 2020, Biosimilar Awareness Week is an opportunity for healthcare professionals and the Australian public to engage in a conversation about biosimilar medicines and their role in supporting the future of sustainable healthcare for all Australians. Activities will take a digital approach with communications through multiple networks, supported by a focussed discussion on the @BiosimilarsAu social media platforms.  The week is intended to:

• Raise awareness of biosimilar medicines among consumers and carers in Australia
• Raise awareness of biosimilar medicines role in supporting sustainable healthcare for all Australians
• Increase confidence in the use of biosimilar medicines through shared discussion between healthcare professionals and their patients
• Raise awareness of the Biosimilar Hub and the various resources available.

To take part in Biosimilar Awareness Week, GBMA Education would like to encourage everyone to join the @BiosimilarsAu online community on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Key facts about biosimilar medicines are also available to download from the Biosimilar Hub throughout the week for the wider healthcare community to access and upload to their social media channels.

By sharing a consistent set of educational messages, through a broad range of credible voices, GBMA Education hopes to create a powerful means to amplify awareness of biosimilar medicines.

For more information visit www.biosimilarhub.com.au/events/.

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