Addressing communication barriers in the pharmaceutical industry
Angelique Berg highlights the cornerstone of an efficient healthcare system: data sharing (1,275 words, 6 minutes)
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Managing widespread drug shortages and postponed surgeries during the Covid-19 pandemic proved the value of data and information sharing in the healthcare industry. That’s according to Angelique Berg, speaking during a recent episode of the NPC Podcast.
Berg is the President and CEO of the Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management [CAPDM]. CAPDM is responsible for distributing more than 95% of all retail branded and generic pharmaceuticals in Canada.
“We had disruptions on the front lines—such as drug shortages and postponed surgeries—because the healthcare system was trying to deal with the pandemic,” she said, adding that she believes data sharing enabled CAPDM to allocate its resources more effectively.
“Private organizations tend to hold their data and information close to their chest. But that information was necessary to be certain about what medications were required at the pharmacy counter and for surgeries,” said Berg.
“Sharing data was probably one of the major developments during the [Covid-19] pandemic. It’s a necessity. It helped everyone see the benefit for the entire supply chain,” said Berg.
Berg joined CAPDM in Aug. 2020, and she quickly realized the importance of collaboration during the health crisis. “There were so many challenges and disruptions to solve right away that it was like a baptism by fire, from delivering personal protective equipment to the front lines to resolving drug shortages,” said Berg.
“There was an immediate focus on problem-solving and new collaborations with members across the supply chain and with the government. It was so gratifying to see how much collaboration happens behind the scenes to get medications into the hands of patients,” she said.
CAPDM is keen to continue fostering a collaborative environment and invest in data sharing. “We have a task force examining how to plan better for hospital demand, for surgical restarts, and how can we create a decent early warning or rapid response communication system,” she said.
THIS WEEK 06/28/22
AbbVie announced that glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (Maviret) has been okayed by Health Canada to treat chronic Hepatitis C in pediatric patients aged three to 12 years of age, weighing between 12 and 45 kg. Maviret is now approved as a pan-genotypic (GT1-6) treatment for treatment-naïve, chronic Hepatitis C patients, without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis in adults and children aged at least three years old.
Health Canada has approved AstraZeneca’s trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) for Tx of unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast Ca. The indication is for adult patients who have received at least one prior anti-HER2-based regimen either in the metastatic setting or in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting and developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing neoadjuvant or adjuvant Tx.
Astellas Pharma announced that enzalutamide (Xtandi), an oral 1x/daily Rx used for Tx of metastatic castration-sensitive prostate Ca, will now be reimbursed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and under the Non-Insured Health Benefits program.
Croma Aesthetics Canada, doing business as Hugel Aesthetics, announced that Health Canada has granted a Notice of Compliance to Letybo (letibotulinumtoxinA) for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines associated with corrugator and procerus muscle activity in adult patients under 65 years of age. “We are thrilled with the authorization of Letybo in Canada. This is a huge achievement for Hugel Aesthetics as we focus on becoming a top aesthetics brand in Canada,” said Bob Bennett, General Manager of Hugel Aesthetics Canada.
LISTEN NOW
In season seven of the NPC Podcast, Steve Saviuk, CEO of Valeo Pharma, talks about returning to in-person workplace interactions, family roots influencing company culture and standing out in the respiratory therapy market. Hear him in conversation with podcast co-hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea and Mark McElwain.
CANADIAN HEALTHCARE MARKETING HALL OF FAME
The Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame awards were established in 2002 to honour healthcare marketers who have contributed to our vocation and inspire others.
More than 100 honourees have been selected during the past 18 years. In the selection committee’s view, they represent a cross-section of the qualities that make our business unique and fulfilling. NPC Healthbiz Weekly will acknowledge one past Hall of Fame Honoree each week.
2006 Inductee
Pierre Montanaro
Montreal
Editor’s Note: Pierre is now President at TriumPharma Inc.
A true individualist, Pierre Montanaro has brought an unbridled enthusiasm to his 25 years in the healthcare industry. Describing his style as “buttoned-down with a creative side that only a few people know,” Montanaro’s career has run the gamut from that of selling health and beauty aids to the upper echelons of the generic drug trade.
Montanaro says he kind of fell into the pharmaceutical business when he started in health and beauty aids as a sales rep for the Gillette Corporation. This company would be the ideal training ground for his future in healthcare. Over the next 10 years, he would hone his skills in various marketing positions with Clairol and Smith & Nephew multinational companies.
It was a call from Burroughs Welcome in 1988 that would catapult Montanaro into the position of General Manager in charge of the company’s fledgling consumer healthcare business. He would grow the company’s business to $38 million in sales from $12 million, “with little or no advertising budget to speak of.” After six or seven “good” years, Warner-Lambert snapped up the Welcome consumer business, and Montanaro would look for other challenges. He found those challenges at Marion Merrell Dow (later Hoechst Marion Roussel and then Aventis Pharma), who would ask Montanaro to create a separate consumer healthcare division.
By July 2001, the division was sold to Pharmacia, where Montanaro assumed the role of General Manager and increased Pharmacia Consumer Healthcare's sales to over $125 million from $38 million in less than three years. When Pfizer bought out Pharmacia almost three years later, Montanaro headed for greener pastures, landing a job as Vice-President of Marketing for the generic drug maker, Pharmascience.
Montanaro, who jokingly refers to himself as “the king of the merger,” feels privileged to have survived “six [mergers] in 12 years.” But during those mergers and throughout his career, he believes his proudest achievements are the longstanding relationships he’s built along the way. “I have a lot of pride in keeping those friendships and relationships going for well over 25 years,” he says of the many team members, peers, and suppliers he’s encountered during his career.
A true philanthropist, Montanaro’s regard for others goes beyond the office confines to his charitable work for the Montreal Children’s Hospital, a medical facility with “some of the best neuro- and pediatric cardiovascular surgeons in the world.” On a regular basis, Montanaro and staff stage parties for the kids providing pizza, videos, toys, and ice cream for the sick children on the wards as well as donating monetary gifts to nurses for continuing medical education. “It’s a mission for me,” he adds, crediting the hospital staff with saving his daughter's life several years ago.
These days, as Vice President and General Manager of Pharmascience Inc., one of the top four generic companies in Canada, Montanaro proudly surveys a career that’s spanned the entire life cycle of a product. From R, BTC, OTC, and to generics, “I spent three-quarters of my career marketing consumer drugs such as Seldane, Nicorette, Nicoderm, Allegra, Polysporin, and Sudafed to name a few, and I’ve been involved in several very innovative ad campaigns with our AORs,” not to mention the time spent in the ethical pharmaceutical industry. Montanaro says he’s happy to be part of what he considers an exciting, if challenging, industry. “I’m a high-energy guy [and] it’s a fast-paced industry. The guy who’s asleep at the switch will not be successful in the industry we’re in, I guarantee it.”
NEXT WEEK
In the 07/05 edition of the NPC Healthbiz Weekly, Jim Hall, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Covis Pharma, talks about teaching online classes, keeping employees focused during the pandemic and learning leadership skills from mentors. It’s easy to get your no-charge subscription and have the issue sent to your phone or inbox each Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. sharp.
Stay safe, stay sure, and stay on your game. We’ll see you again next week.