For immediate release
BARRY FISHMANOF TEVA CANADA ELECTED CHAIR OF CANADIAN GENERIC PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION
Mario Deschamps of Pharmascience Elected Vice Chair
Toronto, January 24, 2011 – The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) is pleased to announce the election of Mr. Barry Fishman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Teva Canada, as Chair of CGPA, and Mr. Mario Deschamps, President and Chief Operating Officer of Pharmascience, as Vice Chair of CGPA.
“It is an honour to serve as Chair of CGPA, particularly during this period of unprecedented change for Canada’sgeneric pharmaceutical industry,” Mr. Fishman said. “With retail or reimbursed prices being drastically reduced across Canada, the potential savings through greater use of generic prescription drugs have never been greater.It is our priority to work withpublic and private drug plans to ensure they take advantage of these savings by increasing their use of cost-saving generics.”
Mr. Fishman noted that, while generic pharmaceuticals are dispensed to fill 57 percent of all prescriptions in Canada and account for only 25 percent of the $23-billion spent annually on prescription drugs, more can be done to achieve even greater savings. In the United States, for example, generic drugs are dispensed to fill fully 75 percent of all prescriptions. If generic utilization in Canada increased to levels in the United States, Canadians would save an additional $1.6-billion in the first year alone.
He also pointed out that the use of generic drugs by provincial drug plans in Canada is considerably higher than generic drug use by private sector payers. Data from ims brogan shows that generic drugs are dispensed to fill more than 60 percent of prescriptions paid for by public drug programs but only 47 percent of private sector prescriptions.
Mr. Fishman said that another key priority for CGPA in 2011 is to ensure that market monopolies for brand-name drug companies are not extended through trade negotiations between Canada and the European Union
“The European Union and brand-name drug companies continue to press Canada to extend periods of market exclusivity for pharmaceutical products,” he said. “While these extensions would clearly be to the financial benefit of the EU and brand-name drug companies based in Europe, it wouldalso drive up Canadians’ prescription drug costs with no benefit to our economy.”
Prior to joining Teva, Mr. Fishman spent 17 years at Eli Lilly where he held a variety of leadership positions in finance, human resources, operations, business development and marketing. His last position was Vice President, Marketing. After graduating from McGill University in Montreal with a concentration in finance and accounting, he went on to become a Certified Public Accountant while working for Deloitte in Costa Mesa, California. Mr. Fishman also serves on the Board of Directors of The Childhood Cancer Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with cancer and their families.
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Since 1998, Mario Deschamps has been President and Chief Operating Officer of Pharmascience. Mr. Deschamps has over 30 years of experience in the Canadian pharmaceutical and dental industry. From 1993 to 1998, he held the position of General Manager with Dentsply Canada in Toronto, a division of a worldwide dental organization. He previously held various positions in sales, marketing and executive management with Ortho, Astra, and Searle, as well as acting as director of Abbott Canada’s pharmaceutical division.
“In Quebec, generic utilization is lower thanall other the Canadian provinces,” said Mr. Deschamps. “Prices of most generic prescription medicines are being cut in half for both public and private payers in Quebec and it is essential that steps be taken to eliminate the gap between Quebec and the rest of Canada to maximize savings and preserve services.”
According to sales data from ims brogan, generic drugs are dispensed to fill only 53 percent of prescriptions in Quebec but fill 59 percent of prescriptions in the remainder of Canada. If the use of generic drugs in Quebec increased to the average in the rest of Canada, Quebecers would save at least$500-million in the first year alone.
About the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) represents Canada’s generic pharmaceutical industry. The industry plays an important role in controlling health-care costs in Canada. Generic drugs are dispensed to fill 57 per cent of all prescriptions but account for only 25 per cent of the $23-billion Canadians spend annually on prescription medicines.
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For more information, please contact:
Jeff Connell
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA)
Tel: (416) 223-2333
Mobile: (647) 274-3379
Email:
Website:
Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
4120 Yonge Street, Suite 409, Toronto, OntarioM2P 2B8 Tel: (416) 223-2333 Fax: (416) 223-2425