Pharmacy Daily | Apotex feels PBS pinch

FOLLOWING months of ongoing, significant and widespread price reductions and PBS changes imposed across the broader pharmaceutical industry, Apotex Australia has announced that it will cease supply of two of its PBS-listed products. The PBS delisting date is yet to be confirmed, and stock will remain available at wholesalers until exhausted. Apotex md Roger Millichamp says Apotex has been incurring sustained losses by supplying these products under current legislated PBS pricing regimes, with some 68 medicines listed at, or below, ex-manufacturer price of $2. Products facing the chop are Paracetamol/Codeine Tablets 500mg/30mg Blister Pack 20 (early Q4 2016), Cephalexin Suspension 125mg/5ml Bottle 100ml (midlate Q4 2016) and Cephalexin Suspension 250mg/5ml Bottle 100ml (mid-late Q4 2016). Millichamp said although it was a tough decision to make, the impact of legislated pricing reform has resulted in significant losses for some Apotex-supplied products, losses which cannot be sustained. As a major generic manufacturer, the company has said it will continue to be an active contributor to the Generic Medicines Working Group (GMWG) and its discussions with Government, and is working with its customers to allow them to make alternative supply arrangements.

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