News of the Day

The PBAC has actioned one proposed radical change to how the PBS funds cancer therapies in an outcome of the review of pan-tumour medicines.

Yesterday's two stories about the Pharma Australia Gender Equity initiative triggered a remarkable response from the PharmaDispatch readership.

The industry's challenge is to improve the number of women in senior leadership roles, says AbbVie managing director and Medicines Australia board member Kirsten O'Doherty.

Pharmaceutical companies will gather next week for the official launch of the 2019 Rare Cancers Australia 'Pharma 2 Peak Kosi Challenge' cup.

The NPSA has expressed concern over the ongoing impact of exclusive direct distribution arrangements on the sustainability of the annual $200 million CSO funding pool.

PharmaDispatch recently instructed legal advisers to conduct a search and provide advice on the HUMIRA patents in Australia. This is what they found.

DHL has announced a new partnership under which it will manage the supply chain for fast-moving consumer good products and front-of-store products going into the over 400 Chemist Warehouse and MyChemist pharmacies nationally.

DHL can maintain its existing arrangements and even negotiate more if it stays out of the CSO. However, if it signs up to the new CSO contracts, it must agree to effectively limit and even transition away from its existing exclusive direct distribution arrangements and not enter any new deals.

The government may have decided against banning exclusive direct distribution but the CSO review outcome has left many issues unresolved including in relation to the controversial arrangements.

At what point does the sector decide to set aside its differences and rally together to oppose or at the very least delay the reform?

Prime minister Scott Morrison has publicly hinted the government may look to extend the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement before the next election.