Highlights from Medicines Australia’s PharmAus19 Policy Symposium

Health Industry Hub had the pleasure of attending the Medicine Australia’s third annual PharmAus Symposium, held in Parliament House on 15 October 2019. The symposium provided attendees with a fantastic opportunity to hear from industry experts, key stakeholders and policy makers who discussed the innovative pharmaceuticals environment and explored the implications and opportunities of this rapidly evolving sector.

Elizabeth de Somer – CEO, Medicines Australia

Elizabeth de Some, CEO of Medicines Australia welcomed the audience to PharmAus19 Policy Symposium. “Today we’re celebrating the value of medicines; the value the medicines provide to patients to the community and to the economy.”

Medicines Australia will engage in the National Medicines Policy Review in 2020 with the aim of achieving a stronger and better future for Australian patients “We asked for this review, now it’s important that we help the Government shape an even better National Medicines Policy. We seek a commitment to improving the environment for clinical trials and research and development, a commitment to improving access to emerging technologies and a commitment to improving the timely access to medicines.”

The Hon Greg Hunt – Minister of Health

The Hon Greg Hunt addressed the PharmAus19 attendees by thanking Medicines Australia for their leadership and acknowledged the significant contribution from the Pharmaceuticals industry and key stakeholders in bringing new medicines to Australian and helping enhance patient outcomes.

“The big picture is that together we have been able to list over 2,200 new medicines on the PBS since we came to Government. I’m delighted to announce that on our watch, and in particular in the last two years, there has been a 40% reduction in the time to PBS listing and I think that’s a very powerful message to Australia.”

The Government will work with Medicines Australia on the National Medicines Policy Review and continue its commitment to the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

Professor Andrew Wilson – Chair, PBAC

In discussing the PBAC assessment process, Professor Wilson commented on the challenges facing the National Medicines Policy and whether the common understanding of what constitutes a medicine encompasses the variety of therapies “which are not a pills or injection, whether CAR T therapy or gene therapy constitutes a medicine?”

Professor Wilson considered whether the community is best served by specific policies for medicines or whether it would be better served by a policy that encompasses broader therapeutic endeavours as increasingly complex diseases are managed using a variety of different therapeutic approaches. Considerations must also be given to the target population – is the medicine serving a large population of patients or is it targeting rare diseases?

Lastly, Professor Wilson noted that the current National Medicines Policy contains no reference to transparency and accountability. The PBAC is committed to improving transparency in its decision making by providing clear reasons for its recommendations, indications and restrictions.

During the panel discussion, Professor Wilson addressed an audience question on the top three key takeaways for PBAC submissions. “Firstly, recognise that the PBAC process is a comparative process. So, what we need is evidence of comparative effectiveness and comparative safety. Secondly, be clear on what the treatment algorithm is in the Australian context including consultation with patients in the early phase to understand the patient population. Thirdly, cost effectiveness is what we’re looking at, with discussions up front and early to ensure realistic expectations.”

Jessica Bean and Ann Single – Joint Chairs, Patient Voice Initiative

Jessica and Ann discussed the importance of patient voices in healthcare decision making. The community faces an enormous challenge, the challenge of balancing the increasing cost of better treatments with budget limitations and getting those treatments into the hands of patients in a timely manner.

Medicines need input from patients with personal experiences to meet the needs and expectations of those living with the disease. “Without involving patients the development and reimbursement of medicines is filled with assumptions; assumptions about what indicators are important to patients, assumptions about patients’ experiences of therapy, assumptions about patients’ ability to access and take existing treatments, assumptions about the broader social and economic costs of treatment, assumptions on the fact that patients can’t comprehend or appreciate the complexities and challenges around medicines and access to medicines.”

The Patient Voice Initiative promotes patient-based evidence and encourages industry, Government and other key stakeholders to actively engage in seeking patient input regarding medicines to ensure a collaborative approach in enhancing patient lives.