A head-to-head debate over PBS policy in the federal parliament this week with disputed claims over savings, spending and new listings.

A big week for AbbVie as the company's Australian employees take part in its global 'Week of Possibilities' event.

Many in industry harbour residual frustration over what they believe was a process compromised by an impractically short timeline. Yet not all companies waited for an established process before acting.

Australia may have avoided making a detailed commitment on extending data protection for biologics in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement but the issue will almost certainly be raised as part of negotiations for a new free trade agreement with the EU.

A busy day for Medicines Australia with a member company briefing in Melbourne, an important meeting in Sydney to discuss the reform of supply chain arrangements, and then an evening event in Canberra involving senior Turnbull government ministers.

Recent evidence suggests companies wanting a special pricing arrangement might be better off choosing direct negotiation with the Department of Health instead of navigating the PBAC process.

New leadership for MSD Australia and New Zealand with the departure of Riad El-Dada for another position in the company's global organisation.

Medicines Australia says it is meeting with the Department of Health next week to discuss a process for improving the criteria and guidelines for special pricing arrangements.

The 1 July PBS schedule update has confirmed the previously announced listing of Novartis' KISQALI (ribociclib), a streamlined authority for the biosimilar brands of infliximab and a new adrenaline auto-injector.

The Australian Government Solicitor has formally written to companies while health minister Greg Hunt has made his first statement on the controversy.

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.

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.

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.