Medicines Australia is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Harry Nespolon.

Dr Nespolon leaves a tremendous legacy of passion and integrity.

Dr Nespolon has made an immense contribution to Medicines Australia and to the industry. He has been a valuable member of the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct Committee for over 15 years. Dr Nespolon’s unfailing determination to uphold ethical behaviour, along with his ability to make rational decisions, quickly made him an integral part of the Committee. Never afraid to make a statement, or ask a challenging question, Dr Nespolon’s contribution to this committee will be sorely missed.

Dr Nespolon showed great leadership of the RACGP during the COVID-19 Crisis. His tireless work advocating for continuity of care, and strong criticism of misinformation being spread demonstrated his passion for his profession.

Medicines Australia, and the industry is richer for having the good fortune of Dr Nespolon’s friendship and advice. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

Vale Dr Harry Nespolon.

Medicines Australia welcomes the announcement from the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, during his CEDA address that he will be asking the National Cabinet to expedite Medicines Australia’s long standing initiative proposing “a one stop shop” for ethics approval of clinical trials in Australia.

While improvements to R&D tax incentive policy settings also remain essential, harmonisation of the arrangements surrounding clinical trials nationwide are vital if we are to increase investment in this critical area and ensure a health-led economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This reform will mean a healthier Australia along with investment in Australian jobs and economic growth.

As governments, state and federal, consider the steps required to ensure a healthy Australia as we emerge from the worst of the COVID-19 crisis, the innovative pharmaceutical companies represented by Medicines Australia are playing their part in contributing to the global effort to develop a vaccine and improve Australia’s prospects of its being delivered to our citizens in a timely and equitable fashion.

Minister Hunt’s announcement, if adopted by National Cabinet, would enhance the attraction of Australia as a destination for clinical trials for all innovative medicines and therapies.  Premiers and Chief Ministers can take action to deliver consistency within and between jurisdictions.  Their action will decrease complexity and increase speed of commencement of clinical trials and encourage new trials to be initiated, generating further jobs, economic growth and social improvements.

With our general success so far regarding COVID-19, Australia is well-placed to be ‘open for business’ on clinical trials at a time when many other parts of the globe have had to halt trials due to hospitals and clinical staff being overwhelmed.

Medicines Australia and our members look forward to working with Minister Hunt, the Department of Health and State and Territory Governments on this important initiative.

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More information – Natalie Wimmer – nwimmer@medaus.com.au – 0450 728 660

Medicines Australia welcomes the recommendations of the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth from its recent inquiry “Supporting Australia’s export and investment opportunities”.

Medicines Australia made a formal submission to the inquiry and attended a hearing at Parliament House, alongside Bristol-Myers Squibb.

The report acknowledges the potential for leveraging Australia’s competitive advantages in the innovative health sector, particularly the investment and export opportunities that it could deliver for the Australian economy.

Medicines Australia Chief Executive officer Elizabeth de Somer further welcomes the Committee’s focus on supporting the innovative pharmaceutical industry’s efforts to strengthen health outcomes for all Australians and grow the economy, including through attracting greater investment into research and development, growing exports and strengthening advanced manufacturing opportunities.

“The unprecedented challenges posed in the intervening period by COVID-19 has made these objectives more important than ever before as we all seek to rebuild and future-proof Australia’s economy.

“As the report recognises in its first recommendation, better translating and commercialising the discoveries made by our scientists should be a pivotal part of attracting investment into Australia. Commercialising such innovations can also provide, in the long term, export opportunities to Australian companies,” she said

The report’s recommendations also highlight the importance of an innovation-based economy that supports, encourages and attracts direct investment into research and development, particularly clinical trials. The report recommends that a stronger pharmaceutical sector will require:

• an improved research and development tax incentive scheme that also encourages great public/private investment
• additional support for SME’s and start-ups
• a review of intellectual property frameworks relating to patent transparency measures and regulatory data protection to ensure that do not impede investment
• building on lessons learned from the Biomedical Translation Fund
• the national harmonisation of clinical trials processes
• a visa program tailored to attracting the best overseas talent to foster a culture of innovation.

“If the right incentives exist, including for strengthen a growing ecosystem of public/private research and development partnerships, Medicines Australia believes Australia’s economy, alongside Australian’s health, will only improve,” concluded Ms de Somer.

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Medicines Australia welcomes Minister for Trade Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham’s announcement that free trade agreement negotiations with the United Kingdom are to commence from 29 June.

Medicines Australia CEO Elizabeth de Somer said a trade agreement with the United Kingdom is a prime opportunity to attract investment into Australia’s research and development sector, particularly for clinical trials.

“Strengthening the ecosystem of research and development partnerships domestically and between Australia and the United Kingdom will bring new treatments to Australians and open up opportunities for the expansion of our advanced manufacturing base,” she said.

“Our support for free trade in general is fundamentally about ensuring Australians continue to access high quality, safe and cost effective medicines and that we remain competitive internationally to incentivise the presence of industry in developing and supplying medicines and vaccines in Australia.

“In acknowledgement of the strong historical and economic ties between Australia and the United Kingdom, any agreement should also eliminate tariffs, simplify customs arrangements and provide greater opportunities for skilled workers to come to Australia to support pharmaceutical innovations, which will strengthen patient health outcomes.

“These should be backed up by nationally harmonised clinical trial processes consistent with our trading partners alongside competitive research and development tax incentives that promote continued collaboration amongst the public and private sectors,” concluded Ms de Somer.

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More information – Natalie Wimmer – nwimmer@medaus.com.au – 0450728660

With the sudden and dramatic impact of COVID-19, a survey of GPs and their contact with pharmaceutical field staff during the pandemic reveals a massive drop in face-to-face engagement.

The joint Australian Doctor Group and Medicines Australia poll was sent out in mid-May and attracted almost 400 responders.

It shows prior to the pandemic half of GPs would see a rep at least once a month or more, however, in the wake of social distancing measures, 79% of GPs have not been contacted and only 5% have reported a visit in person.

Instead, GPs have seen increases in field staff attempting to contact them by phone (22% compared with 16% last year) along with email which has also risen to 37% (up from 30% last year).

While these changes may be expected, a more surprising results was the uplift in video conferencing, that moved from only 1% of GP using it pre-COVID to 5% during the pandemic.

But, when combined with the increase in Live Chat, 13% of GPs responded with these virtual solutions as their preferred way of being contacted in the future (up from 3% pre-COVID). At the same time, in-person field staff visits have dropped from 81% to 50% preferring this contact form post-COVID.

Recently, Medicines Australia’s released guidance around field staff returning to practices, urging the need to be agile and flexible when working with their healthcare professional colleagues. When asked if they agreed with this approach, 43% of GPs said they did, with only 4% saying they did not.

Medicines Australia CEO Elizabeth de Somer congratulated field staff on their responsiveness to the crisis: “At the outset of industry’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, members reacted quickly to protect the safety of our sales forces and those they interact with by reducing face-to-face interactions with healthcare professionals,”

“The educational interaction between a healthcare professional and a pharmaceutical field rep is an important reciprocal relationship and we are pleased that this will continue under our new normal,” said Ms de Somer.

“Healthcare professionals and clinicians have adopted virtual meetings widely, and this positive survey result is validation that this is appreciated,” said Ms de Somer.

Source: ADG Information sources for GPs pre and post COVID-19, 19^th May – 22^nd May 2020, n= 393

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Right now, more than ever, it is essential that Australians maintain their health. Therefore, Medicines Australia is pleased to be one of the founding members of the Continuity of Care Collaboration.

The Continuity of Care Collaboration (CCC) is an Australian-first national communication collaboration of 15 Peak Bodies, Industry and Healthcare Organisations coming together to stress the importance for people to continue monitoring their health and maintaining their regular medical care.

The group has formed amid mounting concerns that Australians are not maintaining their regular doctor visits for existing chronic conditions and/or putting off seeing their doctor to get a test, investigation, or immunisation due to fears of contracting COVID-19 or burdening the health system.

Medicines Australia Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth de Somer said: “This wide-ranging collaboration from all parts of the healthcare system demonstrates that we have concerns that some people are not taking care of their health.

“Across the board, from GP visits, to pathology, to screening, to acute care presentations, we have seen a significant drop off in Australians taking care of their health. And while this is understandable due to COVID-19, it could lead to long-term health consequences for the patient and the community.

“It could mean the difference between an early stage cancer diagnosis, which could be treated relatively easily, to a stage four – at which treatment options become far more limited.

“From a pharmaceutical perspective, medication adherence is important for controlling chronic conditions, treating temporary conditions and overall long-term health and wellbeing.

“By not seeking treatment now, it could also mean that there will be a heavy influx of people needing treatment in a few months’ time, which will place undue burden on the health system precisely when it needs to be managed very carefully,” she said.

The collaboration is expected to remain operational for the next three to six months, with a review on objectives.

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More information – Natalie Wimmer – nwimmer@medaus.com.au – 0450 728 660

Medicines Australia welcomes Friday’s announcement by Minister for Health the hon Greg Hunt on the PBS listing of breakthrough treatments for cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma from May 1.

Medicines Australia further acknowledges Minister Hunt’s commitment, on behalf of the Australian Government, to ensure Australians continue to access the vital medicines they need and importantly introduce innovative, breakthrough therapies to priority disease areas.

“There has been a significant focus on the COVID-19 health emergency and those affected by the virus, together with supporting the health of Australians living with chronic conditions in our community,” states Elizabeth de Somer, Chief Executive Officer, Medicines Australia.

“We appreciate the priority the Government is placing on the health of Australians and how a healthy community will help to support the economy – particularly in our recovery road-out of COVID-19,” adds Ms de Somer.

“Balancing the expenditure of the pandemic response while maintaining momentum and advancing treatment options and health delivery is essential.

“The medicines included in today’s PBS listing announcement will provide much needed treatments for some of the most vulnerable in our community,” she said.

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More information – Natalie Wimmer – nwimmer@medaus.com.au – 0450 728 660

Medicines Australia welcomes the appointment of Air Vice-Marshal Margaret Staib AM CSC (Ret’d) to the newly created position of Freight Controller within the Government’s International Freight Assistance Mechanism.

“We are extremely pleased with the appointment of Air Vice-Marshal Staib and further recognition by Government on the importance of international freight for the movement of vital medicines and medical equipment during the COVID-19 crisis,” says Elizabeth de Somer, CEO Medicines Australia.

“Maintaining international airfreight arrivals and access to global supply chains of vital medicines is a critical priority for the pharmaceutical industry. While we are working tirelessly to ensure our medicines continue to arrive into Australia, via international airfreight and commercial flights, we are extremely grateful for the significant support and leadership Government is providing.

“This must be a collaborative effort in these difficult times and we welcome Air Vice-Marshal Staib to the critical leadership position of Freight Controller and the significant experience she brings in domestic and international aviation and logistics,” says Ms de Somer.

“We look forward to working actively alongside government on the nation’s recovery both from a health and economic perspective as we navigate the road-out of COVID-19.”

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More information – Natalie Wimmer – nwimmer@medaus.com.au –  0450 728 660

As an economic and manufacturing leader in Australia, we pledge to encourage all our 22,000 + employees to download the Federal Government’s COVIDSafe app.

Containment and rapid response have been key to lessening the impacts of COVID-19 in Australia. Further improvements to contact tracing people who have been exposed to positive COVID-19 cases will help to reinvigorate the Australian economy and return us all to the lifestyle that we value.

Our industry intersects with those most vulnerable in our community on a daily basis, though clinical trials, patient interactions and collaborating with healthcare professionals.

For us to fulfill our role and safely interact with the community and our frontline health care professionals, as restrictions are relaxed in the coming months, it is imperative that we are doing our bit to support this important initiative. For that reason, we encourage the use of the COVIDSafe App to maximise the improvements it will bring.

In addition to our commitment, we call on other industry leaders to echo this sentiment and publicly pledge to encourage their workforces to download the app.

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More information – Natalie Wimmer – nwimmer@medaus.com.au – 0450 728 660

Medicines Australia has today welcomed the COVID-19 tracking app COVIDSafe, which will help keep the community safe from further spread of coronavirus through early notification of possible exposure.

“This app is crucial during these challenging times – for those fighting COVID-19 in our hospitals and in order to protect the most vulnerable within our communities,” said Elizabeth de Somer, CEO Medicines Australia.

“The innovative pharmaceutical industry strongly supports the Federal Government’s efforts to improve tracing of COVID-19.

“The app is an important milestone on the road to recovery, reopening the economy and will lead to a relaxation in social distancing restrictions,” she said.

The health initiative uses technology to automate and improve what state and territory health officials already do manually.

“Contact tracing is a slow and manual process, which puts the community at risk for further disease spread while tracing takes place. This app will enhance the ability to respond quickly to COVID-19 outbreaks and contain the spread of the virus.

“Digital health tools like this app are becoming commonplace in today’s healthcare landscape. As will all digital health apps, information is strictly controlled and maintained.

“I encourage those within the innovative pharmaceutical industry, both employers and employees to get behind this initiative and download the app,” Ms de Somer adds.

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More information – Natalie Wimmer – nwimmer@medaus.com.au – 0450 728 660