he British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) has voted Pete Kelly, managing director of Accord UK, to become its new chair.
He replaces Peter Ballard, who has completed his second tenure as the association's chair and will now serve a further year as vice-chair.
Pete leads the UK operations of Accord, one of the largest generic and biosimilar manufacturers in Europe. In the UK, the company currently supplies a fifth of
all generic medicines.
Mark Samuels, chief executive of BGMA, said: "We are very fortunate to have someone of Pete's experience and leadership qualities to take on the mantle of chair
of the association. The industry faces a challenging period on many fronts, and Pete's input will be invaluable.
"I would also like to record my enormous gratitude to Peter Ballard, our out-going Chair who has been an incredible servant to the association over many, many years.
He will continue for another year as vice-chair, and we are pleased to have his continuing advice."
What initially began as two close friends taking a leisurely walk to escape their everyday routine has evolved into a meaningful endeavour to support the
fight against cancer.
Jamie Sparrow, Senior Vice President - Commercial, EMENA at Accord Healthcare, and Jamie Durbidge, Owner & Managing Director of Perennial Pharma, will be
undertaking a 5-day walking challenge to support The Luke Hart Foundation in raising funds for Cancer Research UK.
The two Jamies have been friends for more than 15 years and worked together at Mylan, now Viatris, where Jamie S served as Managing Director, while Jamie D held
the position of Sales Director for some years.
During the COVID pandemic when everybody was stuck at home, the two friends, both early risers, used to spend hours in the mornings walking and talking over the
phone, about anything and everything - work, life, family, the Pharmaceutical Industry, politics, sport, and about challenges that people were having during the
lockdown.
After continuing this routine for several months, they eventually planned to transform their daily ritual into a "walking and talking" trip to reconnect, catch
up on things, and enjoy some time together and with friends who wanted to join them.
The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) is bolstering its leadership team with the appointment of Jay Badenhorst as the Director of Pharmacy, a newly
created position aimed at fortifying its commitment to advancing pharmacy practice.
This move comes amidst a period of significant change and challenge for frontline pharmacists, prompting the independent trade union to enhance its influence
in the evolving healthcare landscape.
Mr. Badenhorst, who previously served Whitworth Chemists as the Managing Director and also has leveraged his extensive knowledge of the pharmacy practice and
organisational leadership as the Vice Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, reasons his "commitment to being at the forefront of positive change within
the pharmacy profession."
Mr. Badenhorst expressed his enthusiasm stating: "I am delighted to be joining an organisation that has so much vision, ambition and drive at a time when
pharmacists have so many opportunities to develop their roles for the benefit of patients."
According to Mark Koziol, Chair of PDA, the new position is a reflection of the union's commitment to pharmacy and described the new Director of Pharmacy
as "a senior level, proven and award-winning pharmacy leader."
Many people with advanced Parkinson's disease are currently required to take more than 20 pills a day to manage their symptoms, while some necessitate
treatment through a permanent feeding tube.
Soon, patients will only be required to wear a portable kit to get a continuous dose of the medication delivered into their bloodstream 24 hours a day.
This innovative treatment, called Produodopa, will now be made available on the NHS, providing benefit to nearly 1,000 people with advanced Parkinson's disease,
according to a BBC report.
James Palmer, NHS England's medical director for specialised services, told the publication that the drug's rollout will offer "a vital new option on the NHS for
those who aren't suitable for other treatments such as deep brain stimulation."
He added that the new therapy will help patients manage their symptoms "more effectively" and improve their quality of life.
Staveley Pharmacy, a well-established community pharmacy located in the picturesque village of Kendal within the Lake District, has undergone a change in
ownership.
The family-run business led by a husband-and-wife team has been acquired by brothers Mohammad Waqas and Khuram Shazad, taking the helm as first-time buyers,
according to Hutchings Consultants.
Known for its strong counter trade and deep community ties, the pharmacy has been nurtured and managed by the previous owners with a profound dedication to the
local community. Over the years, they have developed the business into a trusted local institution.
Paul Steet, Associate Director of Hutchings who managed the sale, reflected on the transition, noting the longstanding relationship with the sellers.
"Having worked with the previous owners since 2015 when they initially contacted Hutchings Consultants to discuss a valuation of the business, I feel personally
connected to this pharmacy. I am delighted that Mohammad and Khuram will be taking over the reins," he said.
Patients in Ireland with a specific type of lung cancer can now access Merck's TEPMETKO® (tepotinib) as a second-line treatment option, following its
approval for reimbursement by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Tepotinib is the first treatment approved in Ireland specifically targeting advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with mesenchymal-epithelial transition
factor gene (MET) exon 14 (METex14) skipping alterations.
Previously, the oral MET inhibitor had been approved in the NHS across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Patients with advanced NSCLC with METex14 skipping alterations typically have poorer overall survival rates compared to other NSCLC patients.
According to Merck, tepotinib has shown consistent and durable antitumor activity in this group, as demonstrated in the VISION study, further cementing its role
in clinical practice.
Roisin Molloy, Managing Director of Merck Healthcare in Ireland, said: "This is an important step forward for targeted treatments in Ireland and it is fantastic
news that the HSE has reimbursed tepotinib."