The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) latest report Cancer in Australia 2017, is a welcome validation of the importance of pharmaceutical innovation for cancer survival rates.

The report shows that while cancer is a major cause of ill health in Australia, and more cases are being diagnosed, death rates have continued to fall since the 1980s, and incidence rates have also decreased in recent years.

The report estimates that over 134,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia in 2017- an average of 367 diagnoses each day and 2.8 times as high as in 1982.

The findings is a significant indicator of the value of investment in preventative health and innovative medical interventions. Its data backs up a recent study commissioned by Medicines Australia that identified that listing innovative medicines on the PBS had a significant impact on cancer survival rates.

In a report commissioned by Medicines Australia in 2015, American health economist Professor Frank Lichtenberg also estimated how medicines listed on the PBS affected cancer survival. The five year survival rate for all cancers in Australia increased from 49% to 62% between 1986 and 2007. An estimated 40% of this improvement is the result of new medicines listed on the PBS. In the absence of new medicines, the five-year survival rate would have been 57% in 2007.

Medicines Australia Chief Executive Milton Catelin commended AIHW on its critical research.

“Modelling such as that undertaken by AIHW and Medicines Australia identifies just how important it is to invest in a strong health system and the listing innovative medicines on the PBS plays a fundamental role in that,” said Mr Catelin.

“Research shows that investing in innovative medicines not only improved lives it makes the economy more productive and actually delivers significant savings in overall health costs, especially in our hospitals.”

“How Australia’s healthcare system is managed, including the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), is a key factor in Australia’s future and this report should provide the Government with further validation that listing innovative medicines on the PBS is an astute investment, particularly when you think about the productivity and economic gains associated with improving health outcomes,” he said.

ENDS

CONTACT: Natalie Wimmer – Communications Manager – 0450728660

Monday, 23 January 2017, Australia: MTPConnect – the Medical Technologies, Biotechnologies and Pharmaceuticals Industry Growth Centre – and Medicines Australia – the membership organisation representing the discovery-driven pharmaceutical industry in Australia – have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work collaboratively to boost the innovative pharmaceutical industry in Australia.

The collaboration will see the two organisations combining their efforts to champion a sector-led approach to accelerate the growth of the ecosystem, through activities to unify and educate the medical technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical (MTP) sector, as well as engage with government to create a positive regulatory environment.

Together, MTPConnect and Medicines Australia will support the innovative medicines and vaccines industry to:

• Develop priorities in areas of competitive advantage that relate to the MTP sector;
• Identify opportunities for organisations within the sector to collaborate on R&D by pooling and sharing resources;
• Showcase the extraordinary talent of the people that work with our industry; and,
• Partner with the Australian Government to enable this sector to thrive and lead economic repair.

Sue MacLeman, Chief Executive Officer of MTPConnect, said, “Medicines Australia is an important advocate and resource for the Australian pharmaceuticals industry. By signing an MoU with Medicines Australia, MTPConnect is excited to combine our efforts achieve our common goal of guiding Australia to realise its full potential as a world leader in the sector.

“The newly released MTPConnect Sector Competitiveness Plan – a 10-year strategic plan to boost the innovation, productivity and competitiveness of Australia’s medical technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sector – addresses key issues such as collaboration and regulatory impediments. Through forging important partnerships such as this one, we are taking the first steps forward to achieve our shared visions of transforming Australia into an MTP hub that will deliver innovative and world-leading healthcare.”

Milton Catelin, Medicines Australia Chief Executive said, “The opportunity to work closely with MTPConnect will help our industry to focus on our global competitiveness.”

“This partnership will help to ensure the clinical trials environment in Australia is world leading and brings benefits to the Australian community be offering early access to medicines.”

“Our aim is to address key impediments to competitiveness within our sector. By overcoming the obstacles that impede the translation of research and development into market-ready medicines and vaccines, we keep Australians out of hospitals, prevent disease, boost productivity and the economy.”

“MA also looks forward to working with MTPConnect to identify opportunities to address regulations that are unnecessary or overly burdensome that impede growth of this important industry.”>

-ENDS-

About MTPConnect

MTPConnect was formed as a not-for-profit organisation in November 2015 as part of the federal government’s $250 million Industry Growth Centres Initiative to accelerate the rate of growth of the MTP sector, achieve greater commercialisation and establish Australia as an Asia-Pacific hub for MTP companies.

The MTPConnect Head Office is located at the New Horizons Building at Monash University, co-located with CSIRO and industry. There are also key hubs at the University of Sydney’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology and the Medical Device Research Institute at Flinders University at Tonsley in Adelaide.

About Medicines Australia

Medicines Australia represents the innovative medicines and vaccines industry in Australia. Our member companies discover, invent, manufacture and supply innovative medicines and vaccines to the Australian community. Those medicines keep Australians out of hospitals, prevent disease and play a pivotal role in ensuring a productive and healthy community.

Medicines Australia drives the creation and development of a predictable environment for the continued, sustainable growth of the innovative and research-based prescription medicines industry so that Australians can continue to lead longer and healthier lives.

Media inquiries:

Zoe Stephenson
Corporate Communications Manager, MTPConnect
+61 3 9905 1757
zoe.stephenson@mtpconnect.org.au

Natalie Wimmer
Communications Manager, Medicines Australia
0450 728 660
Natalie.Wimmer@medicinesaustralia.com.au

Medicines Australia Chief Executive, Mr Milton Catelin, has welcomed the appointment of the Hon Greg Hunt MP as the new Minister for Health and Minister for Sport.

“I congratulate Minister Hunt on his appointment to a portfolio that has an enormous impact on the health and wellbeing of all Australians and the Australian economy,” Mr Catelin said.

“This important industry welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with Minister Hunt and his office to ensure that we continue to develop a no-surprises environment that maintains the viability of the medicines industry in Australia and timely access to medicines for Australian patients.”

“As the peak body representing the innovative pharmaceutical industry in Australia, Medicines Australia will be able to offer the new Minister detailed advice on the contribution that innovative medicines make to the Australian community and economy.”

“Minister Hunt has worked well previously with the sector as Minister for Industry, Innovation & Science, and understands the industry’s issues including the need to nurture a strong, sustainable Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).”

Minister Hunt has a track record as being an effective minister who engages closely with all stakeholders to ensure that he is getting efficient and practical outcomes for issues that relate to his recent portfolios.

“I look forward to working with Minister Hunt as he works toward completing the Medicines and Medical Devices Regulation reforms, Clinical Trial reforms, as well as achieving faster approval processes for innovative medicines and ensuring our members get stability and certainty as we lead into this year’s Budget.”

Medicines Australia also congratulates Senator Hon Arthur Sinodinos on assuming the role of Minister for Industry, Innovation & Science, who has a long history of support for the medical science community.

“Our industry strongly depends on scientific advancement and research innovation, and we look forward to continuing to work with Senator Sinodinos in this respect,” said Mr Catelin.

Medicines Australia and its member’s would also like to acknowledge the Hon Ken Wyatt MP on becoming the Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health and note that he is first indigenous Australian to be appointed to the Ministry.

The industry would also like to congratulate Senator the Hon Scott Ryan and Mr Michael Sukkar MP on their elevations.

“Medicines Australia and our members look forward to an ongoing and constructive relationship with the PM and his team,” said Mr Catelin.

Contact:

Natalie Wimmer
Phone: (02) 6122 8500
Email: Natalie.Wimmer@medicinesaustralia.com.au

Medicines Australia (MA) is the peak body representing the innovative medicines and vaccines industry. It is committed to delivering a longer and healthier life for all Australians through availability and choice of world leading innovative medicines and development of a sustainable research-based prescription medicines industry. Its members are companies that invent, manufacture, export and supply innovative medicines and vaccines to Australians and the world.

The future focussed Advisory Council will provide the Board with strategic advice on trends and issues impacting the Industry in the medium to long term (3 to 10 years). This advice will inform the Board in setting the future strategic priorities for Medicines Australia and the innovative medicines and vaccines industry more broadly.

If you are passionate about shaping the future of this vital industry, please review the Medicines Australia’s Advisory Council Candidate Kit and apply.

Applications should be forwarded to Advisory.Council@medicinesaustralia.com.au no later than 5pm Monday 13th February, 2017.

Confidential enquiries and applications should be addressed to Dee Hopkins at Medicines Australia either by email or call (02) 6122 8560 or 0419 012 094.

The Productivity Commission report recommendations, if adopted, would put local jobs, investment and Australian patients’ early access to breakthrough medicines at risk.

The Commission continues to misunderstand the value of Intellectual Property (IP) and is putting at risk the jobs of thousands of Australian scientists and medical researchers, as well as sending a signal to investors that Australia is indeed “closed for business”.

These recommendations, if implemented, would undermine the Government’s Innovation Agenda, particularly in the Medical Research sector, including local biotechnology companies.

These recommendations would also see Australia’s competitiveness fall even further behind other countries with more robust IP systems such as those in the UK, Japan and Europe. Medical Research is one of the few sectors identified by the Government as having the potential to grow our economy into the medium term.

IP is critical to secure new and better treatments for patients – it takes 15+ years of expensive R&D to bring forward new innovation in medical science. Watering down Australia’s existing IP regime puts at risk early access to medical innovation by Australians as it will become unviable to bring a new product directly to market in Australia.

The proposed reform of Australia’s IP regime also sends a troubling signal to our members who currently invest $1 billion a year in local R&D.

The report findings are also at odds with the Australian Government’s efforts to attract more clinical trials which give patients free, fast access to the latest medicines in the final phases of development.

We welcome the Government’s consultation process and hope that they will dismiss the recommendations in this report that risk losing investment and jobs in this critical sector. We look forward to continuing this vital work with the Australian Government to ensure Australia has a thriving environment for research and development.

Contact:

Natalie Wimmer
Phone: (02) 6122 8500
Email: Natalie.Wimmer@medicinesaustralia.com.au

The Chairman of Medicines Australia, Mr Wes Cook, would like to announce that Melissa McGregor and Bruce Goodwin have been voted to the Board of Directors.

Melissa McGregor is the Managing Director of Pfizer in Australia & New Zealand, while Bruce Goodwin is the Managing Director of Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Australia and New Zealand (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson).

Their appointments follow the recent departures of Geoff McDonald (GSK) and James Priour (Amgen) from the Board. Both appointees will hold their positions until the next Annual General Meeting, to be held in October 2017, when all Board positions will be up for nomination.

Mr Goodwin previously served on the Medicines Australia Board between 2009 and 2012. He also served for two years as the Vice-Chairman of the Japanese-based executive committee of PhRMA while working as President of Janssen in Japan.

Ms McGregor was a Board member of the New Zealand industry body when she was recently running Pfizer’s local operations.

“On behalf of the membership, I would like to congratulate both Melissa and Bruce on their successful nominations to the Medicines Australia Board,” said Mr Cook.

“To be nominated by your peers to represent the industry is a tremendous honour and I know both Bruce and Melissa will be valuable additions to the Board.”

“Combined, they bring five decades worth of experience in the pharmaceutical industry with much of that time in Australia.”

“Their experience in the sector will help them to play a vital role in the policy discussions that are critical to our members.”

“I look forward to working alongside Melissa and Bruce during what will be an important year for our industry,” said Mr Cook.

Medicines Australia Chief Executive, Milton Catelin said, “to have a strong members’ organisation you need a strong Board of Directors and Melissa and Bruce will not only meet that challenge they will help further strengthen the reputation of this important industry.”

“I have no doubt that I will be utilising their insights and experience as we meet the policy challenges over the year ahead.”

“On behalf of Medicines Australia I would like to congratulate them both on their appointments.”

Ms McGregor and Mr Goodwin will participate in their first Board meeting in February 2017.

Contact:

Natalie Wimmer
Phone: (02) 6122 8500
Email: Natalie.Wimmer@medicinesaustralia.com.au

Medicines Australia has appointed Dr Anna Lavelle as an independent Board member following a comprehensive recruitment process.

The appointment follows her recent retirement from AusBiotech where she served for eleven years as the CEO of the industry association which represents Australia’s growing biotechnology sector.

Medicines Australia Chairman Mr Wes Cook said: “Dr Lavelle is a talented, well respected person within the innovative pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector who will now bring her years of experience to our Board.”

“For more than 25 years, Dr Lavelle has served on the boards of not-for-profit, government and for-profit entities.”

“Dr Lavelle is well known to all of our members and already has a reputation as an industry leader and trusted advisor.”

“She has strong governance skills and has a lengthy track record in healthcare delivery, technology development and government policy.”

“As the independent Board member, Dr Lavelle will play a critical role in Board governance but is also well qualified to provide advice to the Board and our members on relevant policy issues for our sector,” Mr Cook said.

Chief Executive Milton Catelin said, “I want to congratulate Dr Lavelle on this important appointment and I look forward to working closely with her in the months ahead.”

“I would also like to thank all of those who applied for the Independent Director role. There were many talented, experienced applicants which is a wonderful sign of the high regard there is for this important industry,” said Mr Catelin.

Dr Lavelle will also Chair the soon to be created Medicines Australia Advisory Council which will be made up of senior leaders from the membership as well as leaders from the broader health science sector.

An announcement of the Advisory Council appointees will be made early in the New Year.

Contact:

James Boyce
Phone: 0423 239 265
Email: James.Boyce@medicinesaustralia.com.au

Medicines Australia welcomes today’s announcement that CSL Limited will be a co-investor in the Government’s Biomedical Translation Fund (BTF) which has been developed to stimulate investment in commercialising Australian medical science.

This co-investment will form part of a fund called the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund Biomedical Translation Fund (MRCF BTF) which will see $115 million of public funds matched by $115 million of private investment.

Medicines Australia CEO Milton Catelin said, “This partnership is recognition that scientific innovation is a key driver of economic growth and the creation of jobs for Australians.”

“CSL Limited (a Medicines Australia member company) is a well-known Australian-grown medicines and vaccines developer at the forefront of medical science and its decision to be a co-investor is good news not just for our sector but for Australia’s medical research community.”

“CSL Limited are to be congratulated on their commitment to driving the research agenda in Australia,” said Mr Catelin.

Funded as part of the National Innovation and Science Agenda, the BTF is designed to ensure the most promising Australian research discoveries have access to institutional growth capital needed for them to be turned into better medical products and services.

In its entirety, there will be $250 million investment in the BTF fund from the Government to be dollar-matched by private sector co-investment.

“It’s critical that our government continue to foster a culture where innovation policies help to stimulate Australia’s capabilities to facilitate the next generation of breakthrough medicines, said Mr Catelin.

“If managed appropriately, the BTF, including the MRCF BTF, have the capacity to vastly improve the lives of average Australians. It will see the creation of new jobs – particularly in STEM areas – that will help Australia compete as global players in innovation, science and the delivery of life-changing technology.”

“Our members already deliver more than $1 billion every year to Australian research and development and the more our politicians deliver policies which encourage innovation like the BTF, the more this important sector will evolve.”

“Medicines Australia congratulates the Australian Government for driving this innovation and research agenda.”

Contact:

James Boyce
Phone: 0423 239 265
Email: James.Boyce@medicinesaustralia.com.au

Legislation introduced to Parliament on final sitting day of 2016 will enable faster access to certain new medicines for Australian patients and help to cut unnecessary red tape for industry too.

The Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016 was introduced by Health Minister, Hon Sussan Ley MP is the first legislative step toward the full implementation of the Medicines and Medical Devices Review.

Medicines Australia Chief Executive Milton Catelin said the Bill supports the implementation of new regulation-making powers that will create two new pathways that will help speed up approval of medicines.

“For a number of years, Medicines Australia and member companies have worked with the Australian Government to identify improvements in our registration approval processes, and related matters. The Bill addresses these concerns head-on.  The changes to approval, registration and listing times mean that Australian patients will get faster access to safe medicines. Our world-leading regulatory system will only be enhanced as a result of this Bill,” he said.

“The measures have widespread cross-political support and we expect it to pass without delay in 2017 as this is in the best interests of the Australian people. We will continue to work with the Therapeutic Goods Administration to ensure we all get the detailed regulations right”.

Medicines Australia thanks Health Minister Sussan Ley and the TGA for their open and extensive consultation process to date, and the ongoing work on changes to the regulation of therapeutic goods.

Contact:

James Boyce
Phone: 0423 239 265
Email: James.Boyce@medicinesaustralia.com.au

Medicines Australia welcomes the Turnbull Government’s announcement of $7.4 million in funding for medical technology and pharmaceuticals industry-led projects.

MTPConnect, established under the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Centres Initiative is co-investing in projects that will help increase commercialisation of new research.

Medicines Australia is a partner in two projects that have been awarded a share of the funding:

• the Bridge programme, led by the Bridge Consortium, will transfer practical skills on pharmaceutical commercialisation through training, including direct exposure to industry practitioners.
• a tele-trials strategy, led by Clinical Oncology Society of Australia, will increase patient access to cancer clinical trials closer to home, whilst ensuring the proper conduct of these trials.

Medicines Australia Chief Executive Milton Catelin said “I congratulate both the Bridge Consortium and the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia on being awarded funding”.

“While Australia performs well on research excellence, evidence suggests we could do better when it comes to commercialising research outcomes.  The Bridge programme provides, through training and networking, the knowledge transfer that happens naturally in other countries,” he said.

“Investing in the tele-trials strategy is critically important because it will help patients gain access to innovative treatments not otherwise available in remote regions, and improve the lives of many Australians residing in regional areas because they will be able to stay close to home.”

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to create a highly productive commercialisation environment through investing in these very worthy and exciting projects announced today.”

Contact:

James Boyce
Phone: 0423 239 265
Email: James.Boyce@medicinesaustralia.com.au