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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 8 NEWS IN FOCUS Shannon Sullivan VP AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, AMGEN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND Arriving in Australia mid-pandemic failed to deter Amgen’s new leader. Neither did the country’s complex regulatory environment, which inspired her to steer the company through the challenges and set a precedent for ongoing advancement and innovation. Shannon, a belated welcome to Australia. I believe you relocated here as Amgen’s new MD mid-way through last year? Yes, I’ve been with Amgen for the past 20 years, but travelling with my family from California to Sydney in the middle of a global pandemic to lead the Australian team through these unique times has been an incredible experience that has also challenged me in ways I never would have foreseen. Before I came to Australia, I’d heard a lot about how complex the Australian regulatory and reimbursement environment is, and while that’s true, it’s also one of the reasons I took this job. Tell me a little more about how Covid has impacted your business? The last 12 months have created challenges unlike any time in recent memory. We’ve all experienced an enormous amount of change, but it’s also opened the door for new opportunities and allowed some significant improvements. I’m proud of the resilience shown by our Amgen team, as, despite the challenges, we stayed focused on our priority to serve the almost 600,000 patients in Australia who rely on us to provide their medication. The pandemic certainly has shone a light on the importance of pharmacy as vital partners to patients, to industry, and the supply chain, among others. The fact that pharmacies stayed open and ensured treatment continuity for their patients was extraordinary. From home deliveries to electronic scripts and now the administration of the vaccine, pharmacies have clearly demonstrated their immense value to the community through their leadership and we welcome the first-time government funding being made available to pharmacy for the administration of the Covid vaccines. What do you see as the role of pharmacy in the future? Australia has built an enviable healthcare ecosystem that’s admired internationally and continues to evolve at an exceptional pace. Traditionally, health policy development and implementation occurred in silos. However, going forward, I think pharmacies will be integrated into the broader healthcare environment as medicines experts. It’s increasingly recognised that adherence and medication management are critically important in a coordinated and holistic approach to delivering patient health outcomes. I believe digital health will be a key enabler of the integration, and those pharmacies that establish themselves as true health destinations will lead the way, especially in chronic and complex diseases. It’s an exciting time for the pharmacy sector and we look forward to seeing how it continues to evolve in the future. We know Amgen as the supplier of Prolia. What’s happening in the area of osteoporosis? Amgen recently launched the first new bone medication to be listed on the PBS for 10 years, providing another treatment option for patients with severe established osteoporosis who are at high risk of fracture. Unfortunately, once you’ve had a break, you’re five times more likely to have another within the next 12 months, so it’s critical these patients are treated. There are 1.39 million Australians with osteoporosis, but many are unaware they have the disease until a minor fall breaks a bone, and with more than 172,000 fractures occurring each year, there’s a lot still to be done to address underdiagnosis and treatment persistence rates. This is also true for cardiovascular disease and cancer, and pharmacists are an integral partner to make progress with improving outcomes for patients with these conditions. “Pharmacies have clearly demonstrated their immense value to the community through their leadership and we welcome the first-time government funding being made available to pharmacy for the administration of the Covid vaccines.“ What are some of Amgen’s other priorities affecting retail pharmacy in Australia? We’ve always been known for our expertise in biologics, so we’re excited to be launching our own biosimilars with our pharmacy partners. Community pharmacy will play an important role in building awareness and confidence in biosimilars for patients, so it’s been great to hear all the positive feedback from pharmacy on the importance of biosimilars in the Australian setting. We’ve also just launched a new product for the treatment of severe chronic plaque psoriasis. We’re really pleased to have so much interest and support from community pharmacies to help their psoriasis patients transition to the right treatment for them. RETAIL PHARMACY • JUN 2021