Karo Healthcare’s Post

Charles Joynson, WaveData MD, was in attendance at the Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA UK) Business Day, held in Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham last week. Hosted by HDA Executive Director Martin Sawer, the agenda covered a number of topics including Community Pharmacy, working towards net zero, and the HDA strategy for the coming year. Most notable for Charles was the presentation by David Watson, The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Commercial Policy Director on the Voluntary Scheme David Watson spoke about the total drugs bill for the UK. This he said made up about 10% of NHS spending in the UK, which in comparison with the rest of Europe (15%) and the USA (20%) was relatively low. This gives us some indicators behind the difficulty the NHS is having in paying for medicines. In the branded sphere we have large rebates which companies have to pay back to the Department of Health as part of the VPAG voluntary scheme, and in the generics sphere we have Category M which forces drug prices to very low levels. Some UK generics are reimbursed at prices that are so low that you couldn’t make and distribute a bar of chocolate for the same amount of money. Pharmaceuticals are complicated to make, distribute and quality check, and come with high risks – let’s face it, if you get it wrong people could die. Should the end product cost really be less than a bar of chocolate? At both ends of the spectrum, we can see that companies are having difficulty making money out of pharmaceuticals. Branded companies are threatening to leave the UK or to withdraw their branded products from sale in the UK. Generic companies are repeatedly finding themselves in loss making territory with individual products, meaning that they go through continual boom and bust cycles. The squeeze on pharmaceutical prices is also affecting patients. We have seen record numbers of products in short supply, with some patients unable to find their prescribed medication despite contacting many pharmacies in their local area or even further afield.

#EVOKUpdates - Evoke Pharma Reports Commercial Strategy Progress & Positive Momentum for GIMOTI "Halfway into 2024, as prescriptions continue to grow, we are executing on our distribution expansion strategy and are seeing improved growth trajectory of access and sales for GIMOTI. The combination of the shift to ASPN and the expansion of additional regional pharmacies is yielding results to help unlock GIMOTI's true market potential," stated Matt D'Onofrio, Chief Executive Officer of Evoke Pharma. Please view the full announcement here: https://lnkd.in/eMw8wMTn. #EVOK #gastroparesis #GIMOTI

Dive into the world of Wonder by Uhlmann's top-notch equipment strategically positioned at every key stage of the packaging process. #blistermachineeB350 you can package with the greatest flexibility, security, and efficiency. Line competence from a single source. #PharmaceuticalPackaging #Innovation #GermanEngineering #GlobalCollaboration

"Collaboration and joined up thinking is great, the need for joined up action is even more important." This quote has stayed with me since the recent The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) conference. I hosted a panel discussion there with experts from the industry and policymakers to discuss how the full potential of UK medicines manufacturing can be realised. I led the panel as the chair of the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership, where we had excellent insights from the panelists. I also shared my own insights from my role as a manufacturing leader at GSK, where we have a significant footprint in the UK and across the world. I left the conference feeling confident and energised for many reasons - two stand out. First, the importance of government and industry partnership and the need for capital support, scale and longevity. Second, the focus on advanced and sustainable medicines manufacturing as a differentiator was clear. The innovation, research, regulatory processes and skills are all important focus areas. We now need to work together to continue to promote these areas, leverage these strengths and build on the progress being made. I want to say a big thank you to ABPI for creating a space to discuss this important topic. And thank you to the panelists @Roz Campion, John Arthur, Stella Peace and Stuart Carroll. I'm excited to see what can be achieved in the months and years ahead.  I commit to push for joined up action through the MMIP, as ultimately our efforts will result in more products for patients, and that's what matters most. #ABPIConf24

Varenicline: Tiefenbacher makes essential medicine available again! 🌍 We at Tiefenbacher Pharmaceuticals strongly believe that our high-quality medicines should be available and affordable for patients all around the world. That´s why we are thrilled to share that we have successfully prepared the #launch of the only available Varenicline containing product in Europe! 💊 Varenicline is a cornerstone of the smoking cessation therapy helping patients to stop smoking in a short period of time (12 to 24 weeks). It was added to the WHO's list of essential medicines in 2021. Due to the formation of nitrosamines in the manufacturing process, the originator brand Champix had to be withdrawn from the market. That’s why it has been unavailable to the nearly 120 million smokers in Europe. Thanks to our dedicated #team in Hyderabad and Hamburg we have successfully developed the first Varenicline pharmaceutical to meet the European quality standards. Now, together with our partners we are ready to bring back Varenicline to #smokingcessation patients in Europe. This launch not only supports patients in their journey to quit smoking but also bring significant cost reduction for the healthcare systems as untreated smoking addiction leads to a variety of follow-up diseases. This achievement underscores our commitment to make high-quality medicine more available. We are excited about the positive impact this will have on patients' lives! 💙 #tiefenbacher #pharma #affordablemedicines 

Dear network, How do we protect Public Health in a Changing World 🌍? Our insightful interview with Hugues Malonne, CEO of the FAMHP - Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) in Belgium, depicts the Agency’s priorities in answering this question: 🔍 As Belgium takes the helm of the EU presidency in 2024, the focus is sharply on advancing the new EU pharmaceutical package proposal to secure timely and equitable access to safe and effective medicines for all; 🌐 Availability and the prevention of shortages will be a critical focus, notably with the launch of the Critical Medicines Alliance; 🤝 Partnerships, innovation, transparency and collaboration with patients and patient organisations will enable broader and faster patient access to innovative medicines. Discover the full interview here: https://pwc.to/3wwNaT0

It was lovely to see so many 340B friends and colleagues at the Phoenix Grantees Conference this week! Are you still hungry for more information about significant changes in the 340B space? I’ll host a Webinar on June 4th and invite you to join. This webinar will discuss changes in the drug pricing landscape (IRA and ARPA) and their impact on 340B drug costs and 340B savings. A particular focus will be given to changes in branded insulin products, which have already seen decreased savings and will soon see increased 340B drug costs starting in July 2024. Other topics will include recent manufacturer restrictions, including Novo Nordisk, and strategies for CHC covered entities to gain access to designated exception pharmacies. Webinar: Who Moved My Savings? An exploration of changes in the drug pricing landscape that reduce 340B savings. Date/Time: Tuesday, Jun 4, 2024 2:00 PM EDT Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/gHTnTAne

Everyone must attend this powerful session! This will provide clarity to choose your future pharmaceutical domain with respect to your skill set.

We are honored to share the significant remarks made by the Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, who highlighted IFET's efforts to reduce pharmaceutical expenditure through strategic channels. Minister Georgiadis emphasized that ensuring uninterrupted access for patients in Greece to both existing and new innovative treatments is a top priority. His acknowledgment of our work underscores the critical role IFET plays in balancing cost-efficiency with the need to provide cutting-edge medical solutions. By streamlining our processes and adopting innovative strategies, we are committed to enhancing patient care and ensuring that advanced treatments are accessible to all who need them. This recognition inspires us to continue our mission with renewed vigor, always prioritizing the health and well-being of our patients. #IFETGreece #IFET #HealthcareInnovation #PublicHealth #PharmaceuticalExpenditure #IFET2024

Have you heard about the restructure of the Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA) in Italy? The Comitato Tecnico Scientifico (CTS) and the Comitato Prezzi e Rimborso (CPR) are merging into a single body: the Commissione Scientifica ed Economica (CSE). The structural changes to the AIFA are anticipated to increase efficiencies during the reimbursement processes. Access this and more insights in the new 2023/24 edition of our guide: 'Market access and reimbursement in key European markets'. Request your free copy at: https://lnkd.in/esUqmwFT #marketaccess #Europe #Italy #AIFA #HTA #reimbursement