News & Trends - Pharmaceuticals
Medicines Australia and AusBiotech CEOs set agenda for the new year

Liz de Somer, CEO of Medicines Australia, and Bek Cassidy, CEO of AusBiotech, look back on the key accomplishments of the past year while setting their sights on this year’s agenda – a Federal election year rife with complexities and potential.
De Somer expressed pride in the industry’s advancements, noting that 2024 was a year of “significant progress” in the innovative medicines sector.
“Our vision to make a tangible difference to the health of Australians, by ensuring their access to innovative and world class medicines remained at the heart of everything we achieved,” she told Health Industry Hub.
A landmark moment was the release of the HTA Review report, with 50 recommendations calling for immediate action to overhaul Australia’s system. De Somer also pointed to the National One Stop Shop for clinical trials, a long-awaited achievement spearheaded by the pharma, medtech, and biotech sectors since 2009.
“The united voices of patients, clinicians and industry to ensure Australian patients are at the centre of health care decision making has fundamentally led to this progress and long may this continue,” she remarked.
Cassidy, who assumed the role of CEO at AusBiotech last year, reflected with pride on a year of remarkable progress.
“2024 was a significant year of transformation as we built on the strong foundations of our almost forty-year heritage,” she said.
Under Cassidy’s leadership, AusBiotech amplified the life sciences sector’s influence on government policy, hosting key events like the Investing in Australia roundtable with the U.S. Biotechnology Innovation Organisation (BIO) and the largest-ever AusBiotech and AusMedtech conferences.
Efforts to unify the biotech sector, still largely pre-revenue, culminated in Memorandums of Understanding with Life Sciences Queensland, Bio Melbourne Network, BioNSW, and Life Sciences Western Australia. This collaborative spirit also fuelled the inaugural National Biotech and Medtech Development and Commercialisation Summit, setting the stage for future innovations.
What Lies Ahead for 2025?
Looking ahead, de Somer highlighted the HTA reforms as the linchpin for collaboration with key stakeholders to advise the government on implementation. She also expressed optimism for the growing public recognition of the PBS’s importance, underscored by campaigns like Stronger PBS.
“In 2025, our advocacy efforts are focused on three core priorities: establishing a national strategy for life sciences, being a sophisticated partner to government, and leveraging the expertise of our Australian ecosystem,” Cassidy told Health Industry Hub.
As the nation steps into a politically intense year, de Somer draws inspiration from a powerful story shared by one of her mentors.
“It made me reflect on how I show up – as a leader, a representative of my members, as a parent, partner, and friend. And, how can I be intentional in all of my decisions and accountable for the outcomes.
“It is going to be a big year professionally, but also personally; so much to do, learn and enjoy,” de Somer stated.
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