Bayer taps Arrotex to supercharge oral contraceptive reach

Arrotex and Bayer Australia have joined forces in a strategic partnership that will see Arrotex take on the promotion and distribution responsibilities for Bayer’s established oral contraceptive brands, Yaz (drospirenone / ethinylestradiol) and Yasmin (drospirenone / ethinylestradiol).

The timing of the agreement coincides with a major shift in women’s health access. From 1 March 2025, both Yaz and Yasmin were listed on the PBS as part of the government’s $573.3 million pre-election women’s health package, expected to reduce out-of-pocket costs for an estimated 50,000 individuals.

Manoj Saxena, Managing Director, Bayer Pharma ANZ, said “This partnership reiterates our commitment to helping Australian women make empowered health and lifestyle choices, and acknowledges the important role that healthcare professionals and community pharmacies play in supporting access to oral contraceptives.”

The move leverages Arrotex’s expansive commercial footprint, which extends across more than 5,700 pharmacies and covers around 50% of all PBS prescriptions nationally. This reach is further strengthened by Arrotex’s prior acquisition of Farmaforce, enabling the company to scale its presence in primary care and deliver on its commercial partnerships at speed and scale.

Saxena added, “It reflects a deliberate strategy to ensure the longevity and accessibility of our established oral contraceptive brands in Australia as these medicines become more affordable through PBS access.”

This strategic move aligns with Bayer’s internal de-layering process. Under the “dynamic shared ownership” (DSO) model introduced by Bayer CEO Bill Anderson, the company has restructured and streamlined the ANZ operations in the past 18 months, aiming to accelerate decision-making and responsiveness to market demands.

Hayley Tamborini, Chief Commercial Officer, said “We are proud to partner with Bayer to expand the availability and visibility of its established oral contraceptive portfolio in Australia. Our mission is to ensure that the PBS listing translates to real-world access.”

Matthew Donnison, General Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Arrotex, reinforced this, adding “This partnership allows Bayer’s global, contraceptive brands to benefit from Arrotex’s deep commercial expertise and our ability to engage with pharmacists across the country. We are pleased to support Bayer in ensuring more Australian women can access these essential medicines reliably, locally, and affordably.”

The partnership also comes as Arrotex, Australia’s largest locally-founded pharmaceutical provider, continues to expand its business focus beyond traditional generics. Acquired by DBG Health in 2023, the company has been actively reshaping its portfolio, most recently securing exclusive distribution and commercialisation rights in Australia for Antengene’s therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).

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