MA, GBMA debate innovation
May 2, 2016
INNOVATE or evergreen are
key words in the debate that
is now raging between peak
pharmaceutical industry body
Medicines Asutralia (MA) and the
Generic and Biosimilar Medicines
Association (GBMA) over a draft
report from the Productivity
Commission into Australia’s
intellectual property arrangements.
The report has argued that there
should be no extension of the
period of data protection, including
for biological medicines.
With pharmaceutical companies
investing approximately $1
billion every year on R&D in
Australia, Medicines Australia says
intellectual property protection is
one important factor among many
which is taken into consideration
before these investment decisions
are made.
“Maintaining an environment that
supports this investment is crucial
for the thousands of Australian
scientists, research organisations,
universities and local biotechs
which rely on this investment
from our members to discover
and innovate for the benefit of all
Australians,” MA said in a release.
“Intellectual Property directly
benefits patients by driving
and incentivising Research and
Development (R&D) of the latest
breakthrough therapies to treat
and cure disease.”
GBMA meanwhile welcomed the
report saying it provides evidence
of an imbalance in Australia’s
pharmaceutical patent system.
“Building on recommendations
of the 2013 Pharmaceutical
Patents Review, this draft report
emphasises the need to get
the balance right to deliver the
best outcome for the Australian
community,” GBMA ceo, Belinda
Wood said.
GBMA highlighted that the report
recognises that evergreening
strategies employed by originator
pharmaceutical companies delay
the supply of generic medicines
in Australia, costing money, since
delaying generic medicine market
entry means that through the PBS,
taxpayers unnecessarily overpay for
medicines.
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