Medicines Australia chairman Mark Masterson today announced a new vision for the Australian medicines industry, to double manufacturing output, exports and R&D investment over the next decade.

Speaking at the National Press Club, Mr Masterson said that with the right policy settings, the medicines industry in Australia was ideally placed to harness the dramatic rise of Asia, the expanding global medicines market, and the emergence of high-tech biological medicines.

“The vision is to double our manufacturing output from $7 billion in 2012 to $14 billion over the next decade and to establish a number of highly specialised biomanufacturing plants,” Mr Masterson said.

“Double our exports from $4bn to $8bn; double our R&D investment from $1bn to $2bn; creating many more high-skilled jobs and increasing the number of Australians accessing clinical trials to 30,000.

“This vision is about sustainable growth, and creating an environment that can attract investment; that can establish Australia as a world-class centre for medical research and drive collaboration between industry and the broader research community.

“We have a genuine, once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow the medicines industry into one of the key Australian high-tech industries that can lay the foundation for a new economy.”

Realising the vision was dependant on getting central policy settings right in four key areas, Mr Masterson said:

• establishing an industry-neutral Government-led strategic co-investment fund
• expediting clinical trial reform to improve Australia’s international competitiveness
• lowering the corporate tax rate to 25% and maintaining the R&D tax credit
• securing a stable, predictable business and policy environment in Australia.

“Whether or not we can capitalise on this opportunity depends on whether we can quickly deliver the right policy settings in these four key focus areas,” he said.

Mr Masterson’s address is available here (please follow link)

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Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au

Governments around the world must work with the medicines industry and other parties to create a policy environment that will encourage the development of new antibiotics, Medicines Australia chief executive Dr Brendan Shaw said today.

Dr Shaw said Antibiotics Awareness Week, which is underway, was a good time for the governments around the world to focus on the problem of antibiotics losing their effectiveness over time as bacteria evolve and mutate to become resistant to treatment.

“The problem of anti-microbial resistance requires a collaborative response, bringing together leaders in government, science, economics, public policy and industry,” Dr Shaw said.

“The medicines industry shares the concerns of the World Health Organisation about the global spread of anti-microbial resistance.

“Without new effective antibiotics, many complex medical interventions like chemotherapy, joint replacements and organ transplants would be very difficult or impossible.

“Governments around the world need to start working with the medicines industry and other parties to create a policy environment that will prevent and counter the emergence of highly resistant infections.

“There is a desperate need for greater incentives for research into new antibiotics.

“Governments in the US and Europe are starting to realise that there are few new antibiotics available today because it has become too difficult for companies to develop new therapies over the last 20 years due to things like restrictive regulatory systems and low prices.

“The result is while the medicines industry has invested billions of dollars in developing new medicines over the last two decades, antibiotics are one area where companies have exited the market.

“In cancer, governments have been prepared to pay for new treatments as they are developed. The result is that today the industry has over 800 new cancer medicines in development, compared with 83 antibiotics.

“It is alarming that the current generation of Australians have to make do with the same antibiotics our parents used 30 years ago. Patients deserve better than that.”

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Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au

The Government’s Australia in the Asian Century report, released today, highlights the opportunity provided by the Australian medicines industry for Australia to engage with the emerging markets in the Asian region, Medicines Australia chief executive Dr Brendan Shaw said today.

“The Australian medicines industry is already helping to drive Australia’s engagement with the Asian region and there are further opportunities ahead,” Dr Shaw said.

“Medicines are among Australia’s largest manufacturing exports to Asia, and with Australia’s latent competitive strengths in this area, we have the potential to grow this significantly.

“We are already seeing companies like CSL, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline supplying Asian markets from their operations in Australia and, if we get the policy settings right, we can build further on these opportunities.

“As well as supplying things like blood products, asthma medicines and flu medicines to Asia, the Australian industry is also supplying services like clinical trials and health economic analysis to the Asian economies.

“Over the next five years emerging markets will double their share of the global medicines market from 14 per cent to 30 per cent and account for most of the growth in the global market, with Asia accounting for a significant part of that.

“With rapid growth, rising incomes and a growing middle-class, Asian markets are likely to see increased demand for prescription medicines and this provides Australian researchers, biotech companies and fully-fledged medicine companies with real opportunities.

“The challenge is to ensure we get our policy settings right including programs to boost Asian engagement coming out of the Australia in the Asian Century report. We need a comprehensive response to the Manufacturing Taskforce Report, we need to maintain predictable policies in health, IP and innovation, and to develop a strategy to put Australia more on the radar screen of the global medicines industry.

“There’s no doubt we have the capability to engage with Asian economies even more through our strengths in the medicines industry. Examples today already prove we can. The challenge is to capitalise on the opportunities we have and drive that engagement further.”

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Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au

A new report released by National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre has found that prescription medicines are currently used by 81% of Australians over the age of 50, with 24% taking five medicines or more.

More than half of people surveyed for the report, Senior Australians and Prescription Medicines state there would be a significant impact on their functioning (46%) or they could not function in the workplace and everyday life at all (7%) if they were unable to take their prescription medicines.

Nearly half (47%) of respondents reported their health as good, and an additional 22% perceived their health as very good.

“This report provides significant insights into the use of prescription medicines by senior Australians. The report underscores the role of medicines in maintaining a healthy, ageing population,” said Dr Brendan Shaw, Chief Executive of Medicines Australia.

“Australians have the third highest life expectancy in the world, with people today living 30 years longer on average than they were a little over 100 years ago. That’s a remarkable yet unheralded achievement.

“Developments in medicines and vaccines over the last 30 years have made an important contribution to this outcome. Medicines to treat cardio vascular disease, arthritis, cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and other conditions are helping to keep senior Australians living longer and better,” Dr Shaw said.

The top concerns reported by seniors are heart disease or stroke (23%), followed by cancer (21%) and dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (13%).

“The Australian medicines industry is committed to bringing effective, new and innovative treatments to improve both quality of life and longevity for ageing Australians,” Dr Shaw said.

The report, Senior Australians and Prescription Medicines: Usage, Sources of Information and Affordability is available from The National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre (NSPAC) website.

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Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au

Medicines Australia welcomes the draft determination by the ACCC to grant authorisation for edition 17 of the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct.

“We are pleased that the ACCC acknowledges the new provisions in the Code which are major shift towards greater transparency, ensure appropriate interactions between companies and healthcare professionals and which provide greater clarity around the application of the Code,” Medicines Australia Chief Executive, Dr Brendan Shaw said.

“Our extensive consultation with consumer organisations, academics, peak doctor groups and other stakeholders have strengthened the Code for the better.

“We are particularly pleased that the ACCC acknowledges sectoral leadership by Medicines Australia in convening a multi-stakeholder transparency working group. This group will examine and report on appropriate ways to disclose payments to healthcare professionals at an individual level. Industry will play its part toward devising a constructive and effective solution for consumers on this issue,” he said.

The ACCC has requested further information from Medicines Australia on three matters: publication of reports in a searchable format, whether the complaints process could be made more accessible for individuals and potential inclusion of representatives of consumer and healthcare professionals on the Code Review Panel.

“Industry is keen to ensure its conduct and Code continues to reflect community expectations. We will consider the ACCC’s requests to work towards a smooth authorisation of the 17th edition of our Code.

The new Code of Conduct, which has been submitted to the ACCC for authorisation is available here (please follow link)

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Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au

The 2012 Pat Clear Award, the Australian medicines industry’s most prestigious award, has been won by Mendel Grobler, Director of Access and Public Affairs at Pfizer Australia.

The Award is presented annually to recognise an outstanding level of commitment by an individual, group or team for the benefit of the Australian medicines industry.

Mr Grobler received the award for his ongoing commitment over several decades to improving access to medicines for Australians and to the development of the industry.

Medicines Australia chief executive Dr Brendan Shaw said Mr Grobler was a highly deserving recipient of the award.

“Mendel’s remarkable career in the industry has spanned many years and is characterised by his passionate belief that Australians deserve the best medicines,” Dr Shaw said.

“He has worked tirelessly to that end over several decades by helping the industry and government better understand the policy environment that is so important to the industry and Australians’ access to medicines.

“Mendel has been a key contributor to the shaping of the policy environment for industry in Australia and an important adviser on major policy issues, such as PBS reforms and the Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth.

“The fact that he has been more than happy to share his considerable intellect with his colleagues and the broader community for the greater good over the years is a credit to him and the Australian medicines industry.

“He has made a monumental contribution to the industry and I can think of no more worthy a winner of this prestigious award.”

The Pat Clear Award recognises outstanding levels of commitment by an individual, group or team for the benefit of the Australian medicines industry.

The award was established in 2002 to commemorate the substantial contribution Mr Clear made to the medicines industry in Australia during his 40-year career.

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Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au

A new Federal Government review of Australia’s patent system, announced today, should consider the compelling case to extend the patent life of innovative medicines, the chief executive of Medicines Australia, Dr Brendan Shaw said today.

Responding to the announcement by the Parliamentary Secretary for Industry & Innovation, Mark Dreyfus, Dr Shaw said extensions to the patent life for health technologies like pharmaceuticals was important because the regulatory and reimbursement processes consume years of patent life.

“We look forward to contributing to this review because there is a growing argument that patent terms in Australia are too short,” Dr Shaw said.

“Given it takes as long as three years to get a new medicine listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and rejection rates by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee are increasing, it’s timely to look at whether patent terms are long enough.

“These patent extensions are important for Australian technology companies.

“This review will be an important opportunity to highlight how delays in Government evaluation systems can slow down access to medicines for the Australian community, and therefore why delivering effective patent life is so important.

“This review is timely given the opportunities awaiting Australia’s innovative medicines and biotech companies in international markets and their need for a robust patent system that appropriately protects companies’ technological knowhow both in Australia and internationally.

“In light of some of the recent deterioration we have seen in patent protection in some countries, the review provides the opportunity for the Australian Government to give a clear signal about its approach to intellectual property to those countries and to Australian technology companies.

“Given that the Government is currently considering how to make Australia more of an exporter of high-technology goods, an objective, independent, impartial discussion of the patents system and its importance is timely.”

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Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au

A new clinical trials website launched today will make it easier for consumers to enrol in clinical trials and help grow the numbers of clinical trials conducted in Australia, Medicines Australia chief executive Dr Brendan Shaw said today.

Australia suffered a 34 per cent decline in the number of new clinical trials between 2007 and 2010. Dr Shaw said the AustralianClinicalTrials website, launched today by Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and Industry Minister Greg Combet, will make it easier for Australians to learn more about participating in trials.

“Clinical trials are an indispensible and, in many cases, the most expensive and time-consuming component of the development process for new medicines and vaccines,” Dr Shaw said.

“So we have a major interest in policy improvements such as the new clinical trials website. This was a key recommendation of the Government’s Clinical Trials Action Group that was set up to ensure Australia remains competitive as a location for clinical trial investment.

“I congratulate Ministers Plibersek and Combet on bringing this website to fruition. I also urge them to keep going with the implementation of the other recommendations of the Clinical Trials Action Group.

“The website is a great first step because addressing the challenges in patient recruitment is one way to help grow the number of clinical trials in Australia and reverse the decline we’ve seen over the past few years.

“Australia is facing increasingly stiff competition globally for clinical trial investment and too often we’re missing out on that investment to countries in eastern Europe and Asia.

“We need to implement the other recommendations of the Clinical Trials Action Group as soon as possible.

“We have a precious opportunity in Australia to reinvigorate our clinical trials industry and ensure we can better compete in the world market for clinical trial investment and keep Australia at the forefront of medical research.

“Clinical trials are one of those classic areas where the benefits of commercial success merge with benefits for the greater community, where successful business outcomes lead to successful patient outcomes.

“Patients who participate in clinical trials get early, and often free, access to new treatments which aren’t widely available to the community at large.

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Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au

Medicines Australia chief executive Dr Brendan Shaw today welcomed the release of the consultation paper for the McKeon Review of Health and Medical Research.

“We are encouraged by the McKeon Review’s recognition of the importance of clinical research both as generator of economic benefit, but more importantly as a generator of health benefits for Australian patients, and the recognition of the important role the medicines industry plays in this,” Dr Shaw said.

“The recommendations to drive more collaboration in the health and medical research sector and encourage greater interaction with industry are important recommendations that warrant further attention.

“Coming on the back of similar sentiments in the report from the Prime Minister’s Manufacturing Taskforce, clearly there is more work Australia needs to do to get industry, health and research sectors working together better.

“It’s an important reform if Australia is going to capitalise on its medical research capabilities in the future.

“We’re also particularly supportive of the recommendation to expedite the implementation of key reforms to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of conducting clinical trials in Australia. It’s a wake-up call on reforms everyone acknowledges are important but have yet to be finalised. This will help reverse this country’s rapidly declining competitiveness as a destination for global investment in clinical trials.

“The recommendation to dramatically reduce the number of ethics committees and to streamline the ethics and research governance review processes will make it simpler and more cost-effective to start a new trial in Australia.

“Medical research in Australia will be further helped by a commitment to embed a culture of research and innovation in the health system. This is important because as long as research remains an optional activity for health care institutions it will always play second fiddle to primary healthcare.

“Investing in research has been shown to have a direct and positive impact on health outcomes. Investing three per cent of the national health budget on medical research will help embed a research culture into the broader health system.”

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Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au

Medicines Australia has been informed by the Federal Government that the moratorium on Cabinet deferrals of the listing of some new medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has been extended to June 2014.

Medicines Australia chief executive Dr Brendan Shaw said while the extension of the moratorium was positive, it did not provide a lasting solution to a policy issue that has been criticised by consumer groups across Australia as well as industry, doctors, academics and the media.

“This move represents a step forward, but it’s disappointing that the Government hasn’t taken the opportunity to put this issue to bed,” Dr Shaw said.

“Questions still remain. There is still no commitment from the Government to abandon deferring medicines for PBS listing deemed cost-effective by an expert evaluation committee.

“This moratorium applies only to medicines that will cost the PBS less than $10 million a year. Uncertainty remains for the listing of other medicines on to the PBS.

“Australia is a country that can afford medicines for sick people and should be giving timely access to medicines a very high priority. Deferrals mean patients are denied access to the medicines they need. The policy also creates uncertainty for industry and makes it harder for companies to bring new medicines to Australia, medicines that in many cases are already available and subsidised in other advanced economies.

“The MoU between Medicines Australia and the Government will deliver $1.9 billion in PBS savings. While we are prepared to continue dialogue with Government ahead of the 2013-14 Federal Budget, we expect the Government to keep its commitment under the MoU.

“The industry has always been ready to talk about a sustainable plan for the PBS, but it needs to be done with a long term perspective.

“We also welcome the support of the Australian Greens and the Coalition, who have committed to reverse the deferrals policy and return to the process of accepting the expert advice of the PBAC.

“It is a system that has served Australian patients well for many years.”

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Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au