Chinese asset fund manager, CDH Investments, appears in a strong position to secure Australian cancer company Sirtex (ASX:SRX) for $1.9 billion.

Bristol-Myers Squibb has launched a redesigned version of Study Connect - a searchable online directory that provides patients with information about the company's sponsored clinical trials.

"We have always had a strong message on the economic and social value our members contribute to Australia – that remains unchanged," Medicines Australia interim CEO Liz de Somer told PharmaDispatch.

Featuring interim CEO of Medicines Australia, Liz de Somer; Hepatitis Australia president Felicity McNeill PSM; Richard Vines of Rare Cancers Australia; and Matt Little, the head of strategic initiatives at AbbVie, the panel discussed this year's Budget.

A busy period is reflected in the 1 June PBS schedule update with a number of new listings, including the first generics of some significant medicines, as well as price cuts for hundreds of medicines.

The Department of Health has issued a background paper and officially called for submissions in advance of the August special PBAC meeting to consider a new process for some pan-tumour medicines.

Takeda’s James Jones, AstraZeneca’s Liz Chatwin and Pfizer's Melissa McGregor, along with policy and advocacy head at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Belinda Wood, discussed certainty, predictability and the future.

You only need to be an observer of recent events, not a cynic, to think policy-makers are probably already preparing for the next round of PBS savings measures.

The first panel of the day featured a discussion on the future of the National Medicines Policy with PBAC chair Professor Andrew Wilson; Hepatitis Australia president and former senior Department of Health official, Felicity McNeill PSM; Michala Fischer-Hansen, managing director of Novo Nordisk and Medicines Australia board member; and, PBAC deputy chair and consumer representative, as well as deputy chair of the Consumers Health Forum, Jo Watson.

Net spending on the PBS will hover around $8.8 billion in 2018-19 - that is exactly the amount spending on the National Disability Insurance Scheme is budgeted to increase in that year.

It has been a busy week for the pharmaceutical sector with a key ministerial meeting, a significant speech by Labor's Catherine King and publication of a key outcome of the Pharmacy Guild's 2025 (CP2025) strategic planning project.

Health minister Greg Hunt met representatives of the industry yesterday to promote the benefits of last week's Budget.

Drive-by shootings, random acts of violence and a Department of Finance enamoured with aspects of New Zealand’s PHARMAC.