Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association names new chair, vice chair

TORONTO — The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association elected Larry MacGirr, chief operating officer of Pharmascience, as chair of CGPA, and Doug Sommerville, SVP and GM of Teva Canada, as vice chair of CGPA.

"It is an honor to be elected Chair of CGPA. I am proud of the key role our industry plays in ensuring the sustainability of drug benefit plans and the overall health-care system in Canada," said MacGirr. "Over the next two years we will focus on working with patients, employers, governments and our partners in health-care sector to ensure our industry can make its full contribution to the Canadian health-care system and economy." 

He added a key component of this work will be the establishment of a predictable and sustainable pricing and regulatory regime in Canada. He noted that the National Generic Tiered Pricing Framework Agreement reached between CGPA and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance has provided approximately $1.6-billion in additional savings to Canada's health-care system.

"In our view, a national approach that provides equal pricing to all Canadians is the best option for patients, payers and manufacturers," said MacGirr. "A national approach also increases business certainty for our members, which allows us to make better decisions regarding our investments in Canada in product development, jobs and infrastructure."

Sommerville added that, now that prices of generic prescription medicines have been dramatically reduced, the focus must switch to implementing changes that increase their use in Canada.

"Many of the most widely prescribed generic drugs offer a massive 82% discount from the prices of the equivalent brand-name versions, but price doesn't matter if they're not being used," he said. "We want to work with Canadians to implement strategies to increase the use of generic prescription medicines so that the saving provided by these lower prices can be fully realized."

MacGirr has been with Pharmascience for the past six years. Prior to joining Pharmascience, he spent 17 years in the pharmaceutical over-the-counter and medical device businesses in the United States and Canada.

Sommerville joined Teva Canada in April 2005 and was appointed SVP and country GM in January 2014. Prior to joining Teva, Sommerville was global VP, Infusion Systems with Baxter Healthcare International.