Next from NPC: 15th Annual Congress preview
Who and what to expect at tomorrow's National Pharmaceutical Congress (450 words, 2.5 min)
NPC Healthbiz Weekly is presented to you in cooperation with Peak Pharma Solutions
The 15th Annual National Pharmaceutical Congress starts tomorrow and will continue on October 27, 2021. Leaders in Pharma will gather on a virtual platform to present and discuss the latest developments in the industry, in line with this year’s theme, “Fifteen Big Ideas to Carry the Life Sciences Forward.”
Panel 1: Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion
The industry’s Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have grown dramatically over the past year, following the widespread demonstrations during the summer of 2020. Recent studies have tracked the positive impact of company diversity on financial performance, while job performance has been correlated with perceived inclusion in the workplace.
During the pandemic, DEI has been top of mind for leaders seeking to maintain company culture. Hybrid and remote models of work have presented new DEI challenges and opportunities. Working mothers, for example, disproportionately faced increased domestic responsibilities and a worse work-life balance during the pandemic. But looking forward, remote work could help broaden the talent pool and enable career advancement unrestricted by proximity.
This panel will include Carol Stiff, Head of Canada for Santen Canada; Brian Heath, General Manager of Amgen Canada; and Frank Stramaglia, General Manager of Astellas Pharma Canada.
Read: What Inclusive Companies Have in Common (Harvard Business Review)
Panel 2: Access to Medicines in Canada
Delivering medicines to patients is at the core of Pharma’s role in the healthcare system. Patient access in Canada depends on reimbursement and regulation—crucial factors affecting the cost of medicine. Recently, patient groups have criticized Canada’s complex regulatory environment for drug pricing for introducing confusion and risking supply.
Canadian regulations have faced criticism for introducing barriers to establishing commercial operations in Canada; companies often incur significant losses while seeking drug approvals and reimbursement. Currently, there are murmurs of a federal plan to again consider implementing a national pharmacare program, which may further muddy the waters for drug reimbursement.
This panel will include Christine Lennon, General Manager of Incyte Biosciences Canada; Ross Glover, General Manager of Taiho Pharma Canada; and Peter Brenders, General Manager, Canada at BeiGene.
Read: Canada’s PMPRB Reform Delays Add Uncertainty (IHS Markit)
Panel 3: External Deployment Initiatives
Determining the future of external deployment has been an ongoing challenge throughout the pandemic—the only certainty is that much has changed. New models for delivery of patient care and new ways of connecting have changed HCPs’ expectations for interactions with Pharma.
More than ever, virtual sales channels and new innovations will be crucial to maintaining customer relationships. Going forward, HCPs will likely have less time to entertain sales that don’t offer added value—through education or otherwise.
This panel will include Paul Petrelli, General Manager of Jazz Pharmaceuticals; Kevin Leshuk, President & CEO of Forus Therapeutics; and Leandra Wells, Vice President and Business Unit Head, Respiratory at GSK.
Read: Virtual Sales Engagement Will Remain a New Standard Post-Covid (GlobalData)
15th ANNUAL NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL CONGRESS
Day One of the 15th Annual NPC starts tomorrow at 10:00am ET. Don’t miss out on valuable insights from Pharma leaders. Use our promo code “HEALTHBIZ” for 30 percent off the registration price.
THIS WEEK 10/19/21
Novartis announced that they have entered a multi-year partnership agreement with Innodem Neurosciences to conduct a clinical trial in multiple sclerosis. Novartis will fund a clinical trial using Innodem’s artificial intelligence-powered eye-tracking software technology, to assist in diagnosis and monitoring disease progression.
Sanofi Canada announced that Health Canada granted approval to SARCLISA (isatuximab for injection) in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). This approval marks the second indication for the drug in combination with standard care for the treatment of relapsed and/or refractory MM.
Janssen announced that Health Canada approved OPSYNVI (macitentan 10 mg and tadalafil 40 mg) for the long-term treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Laboratoire Riva Inc. is recalling one lot (lot C9323) of Riva-Risperidone 0.25 mg tablets due to a packaging error. Some bottles may incorrectly contain Riva-Gabapentin 100 mg capsules. Risperidone is a prescription drug used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, while gabapentin is a prescription drug used to treat seizures in epilepsy.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Season Five of the NPC Podcast explored Pharma’s purpose, process, and people with a diverse list of guests across eight episodes. Podcast host Peter Brenders spoke with guests on clinical trials, laws and regulations, investments in life sci, manufacturing, working with the Canadian government, and implications of Covid-19. Did you miss an episode? Catch up now!
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 stand for a representative cross-section of the qualities that make our business unique and fulfilling. Each week, NPC Healthbiz Weekly will acknowledge one past Hall of Fame Honouree.
2016 Inductee
Edward Gudaitis
Markham, Ont.
Editor’s Note: Edward is currently President and CEO at Acerus Pharma.
An early fascination with science could have easily have led Edward Gudaitis to a career at the lab bench doing basic research, he said. But a late-night of frustrating work during school gave him the push that tipped the balance in favour of what has become a long and successful career in the commercial side of pharmaceuticals.
“I remember back in the second year of university, working late at night in a lab on a basic experiment that still was not going right. At some point, I realized that I would much rather be owning a lab and owning the company that managed the lab than I necessarily was working in the lab,” said Gudaitis, the former General Manager of Gilead sciences Canada. After 11 years at Gilead, Gudaitis has accepted an appointment as Vice-president and General Manager at Allergan Canada, effective mid-October.
As well, leading and training a team was something past experience had prepared him for, said Gudaitis. “I had done some coaching for high school rowing at some point in my earlier life after I had been an oarsman for a while. so that part came naturally to me. My parents were both teachers so I always saw that as something I could aspire to and had an interest in.” After 12 years with Hoffmann-La Roche Limited, in a series of roles of increasing importance, Gudaitis joined Gilead sciences in June 2005. His task at that time was to establish the operations of a Canadian affiliate, overseeing Gilead’s portfolio of products in this country.
“The opportunity to move to Gilead was interesting because, after a long, productive career at Roche Canada, it was an opportunity to really challenge myself, to see if I could be successful in a different environment than the Roche environment,” said Gudaitis. At some point in people’s careers, they will often come to a point where they will say ‘if I ever could start something I would do it differently. I would do it like this,’ said Gudaitis. taking on the challenge of helming Gilead’s new presence in Canada “was an opportunity to do just that. Put your money where your mouth is and try to do it.”
Initially, Gilead had tried to manage its Canadian operations remotely from the US, said Gudaitis. this did not work well, and the company had made a negative impression with the HIV community and physicians, he said.
Starting from that point, finding and building a great team of people, establishing credibility with patients and stakeholders, and establishing a network of contacts and support was a great challenge, but rewarding, Gudaitis said. “As I look at what we have been able to accomplish, how we have been able to change that perception, how we have been able to continue to grow has been something I can look back on with great pride,” he said.
NEXT WEEK
In the 10/26 edition of the NPC Healthbiz Weekly, we’ll brief you on the star-studded panels of Day Two of the 15th Annual National Pharmaceutical Congress. 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.