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ORLANDO, Fla. — The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) has elected Heather Bresch, chief executive officer of Mylan, to chair its board of directors this year.
Heather Bresch
GPhA, which announced the move at its 2016 Annual Meeting here, also named other officers to its 2016 board and executive committee: Jeff Watson, president of global generics at Apotex, as vice chairman and Tony Pera, chief commercial officer at Par Pharmaceuticals, as secretary-treasurer.
Bresch’s term as chair of GPhA lasts for one year. Previously, she served as GPhA chair in 2004 and 2005 and as vice chair in 2003 and 2006.
“In the decade since serving my last term as chair of GPhA, the generics industry has evolved significantly within an increasingly globalized market. Never has there been a greater need for our association to lead the way in shaping policy that expands access to high quality generic medicines and biosimilars, which is why I’ve committed to return to the role of chair and work with our industry’s leaders to influence positive change to our health care system,” Bresch said in a statement.
The value that generic drugs bring to the U.S. health care system is “indisputable,” Bresch noted.
“Today, generic drugs fill 88% of the prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. but consume only 28% of the total drug spending. Yet the harsh reality is that some of the numerous challenges we currently face could limit patient access to generic medicine and debilitate our generics industry, which serves as a critical solution to the nation’s health care challenge,” she explained. “In today’s political climate, no matter how strong each of us may be at an individual company level, it’s important for us to stand strongly together with a unified voice for the good of our shared mission of advancing access to more affordable medicine.”
Generic drugs saved the U.S. health system $254 billion in 2014, according to the “Generic Drug Savings in the U.S.” report compiled by the IMS Institute for Health on behalf of GPhA.
“This industry continues to be the most reliable source of savings in the health sector,” Apotex’s Watson noted. “I look forward to working with the association leadership to advance the mission of GPhA and its member companies, improving the lives of millions of patients while enhancing timely access to quality, affordable medicines.”
Par’s Pera commented, “GPhA is well-positioned to increase our share of voice with legislators, regulators and other key constituencies, and I am excited to be a part of our industry efforts.”
Also on GPhA’s 2016 board of directors are Debra Barrett, Teva Americas; Robert Cunard, Aurobindo Pharma US; John Ducker, Fresenius-Kabi; Peter Goldschmidt, Sandoz U.S.; Jim Kedrowski, Sun Pharmaceuticals; Marcy Macdonald, Impax Laboratories; Paul McGarty, Lupin Pharmaceuticals; Chirag Patel, Amneal Pharmaceuticals; Joseph Renner, Zydus Pharmaceuticals; Richard Stec, Perrigo; Alok Sonig, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories; and Craig Wheeler, Momenta Pharmaceuticals.
“Generic drugs drive savings, not costs,” stated Chip Davis, GPhA president and CEO. “Our newly elected board is an exceptionally strong leadership team with bold vision for the future and a firm grasp on the challenges and opportunities facing this industry. I look forward to guiding GPhA collaboration with the FDA to reduce the backlog of generic applications, working with Congress and others to enact policies that enhance patient and health system savings, and assuring Americans have timely access to vital generic drugs and biosimilars.”