GENERIC medicines provider, Arrotex Pharmaceuticals, is set to become the preferred supplier of generic medicines to Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) pharmacy banner groups from Sep.
Speaking with Pharmacy Daily, a spokesperson for API confirmed that Viatris - the company formed through the merger of Mylan and Upjohn last year - will no longer be its frontline generics supplier.
While API's Priceline Pharmacy, Soul Pattinson Chemist and Pharmacist Advice stores are all expected to switch from Viatris to Arrotex generic medications, the wholesaler has said it will continue to supply Viatris products to other pharmacy customers.
"We've enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Viatris and we are pleased that we [will] continue to supply independent pharmacy as usual," the spokesperson said.
"API's brands have made an independent decision to support Arrotex as their preferred generic supplier from Sep this year for their future strategic needs."
Pharmacy Daily understands that news of API's decision was announced to staff at Viatris late yesterday afternoon, with Arrotex expected to issue an in-house statement regarding its appointment as the wholesaler's preferred supplier at some stage today.
Arrotex was formed in Jul 2019 following the merger of Arrow Pharmaceuticals and Apotex Australia (PD 11 Jul 2019).
The move will further cement Arrotex's status as the largest pharmaceutical company in Australia by volume, with one source describing it as a "massive shift in market share for all involved."
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