Pfizer’s Paul Reid Named As New IPHA President
Pfizer’s Paul Reid Named As New IPHA President
Biogen’s Michael O’Connell confirmed as Vice-President as industry focuses on ‘collaboration’ and ‘innovation’
Paul Reid, Pfizer Healthcare Ireland’s Managing Director, has been named President at the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), the representative body for the international originator biopharmaceutical industry.
Biogen’s Michael O’Connell has been confirmed as Vice-President.
Mr Reid takes over the role vacated by GSK’s Aidan Lynch after his two-year term.
The appointments were confirmed by the IPHA Board. They take effect immediately.
Mr Reid pledged to focus his presidency on ‘collaboration’ and ‘innovation’ as Ireland and the world deal with the social and economic disruption caused by COVID-19.
The industry believes it has a key role in improving outcomes for patients and driving economic recovery through the application of science and innovation.
In July, IPHA agreed a six-month extension to the Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines signed with the State just over four years ago. The extension allows for negotiations on a new Agreement to begin before the end of November this year.
Mr Reid said he was looking forward to leading IPHA through the next two years with an agenda focused on integrating medicines innovation deeper into the healthcare system through partnerships with public sector stakeholders across health, enterprise and research.
“Among my first tasks will be to lead negotiations on a new industry-State Agreement that delivers faster access for patients to the new innovative therapies our companies are bringing forward. Ireland still ranks among the slowest countries in western Europe to make new medicines available to patients. A new Agreement should be based on the principle of joint funding, with industry and the State agreeing between them to cover the cost of new medicines. That is the fairest way to ensure patients get timely access to the best new treatments. The first step is for the Government to allocate in the October Budget new funding for new medicines,” said Mr Reid.
He said the industry’s work on Brexit and COVID-19, and on agreeing an extension to the current Agreement, demonstrated that partnership with the Government works.
“In the Brexit and COVID-19 environment, it is more important than ever for the industry to collaborate across Government so that Ireland can deal with the serious risks posed by both events and, at the same time, realise the opportunity of medicines innovation. Our industry has been focused on securing the supply of medicines for Irish patients, keeping manufacturing sites going, and searching for vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. We are working too, with others, on positioning Ireland as a leader in emerging areas of medicines innovation such as cell and gene therapies and Industry 4.0. We want to help the Government to prepare for future healthcare shocks through better data and information-sharing, boosting immunisation rates, cooperating on applied research and building health system resilience,” said Mr Reid.
Welcoming the appointments, Oliver O’Connor, Chief Executive of IPHA, said: “I am delighted to welcome both Paul and Michael to their new respective new roles. They bring experience and expertise at a critical time for the industry in Ireland and globally. I look forward to supporting their industry-wide agenda, drawing on our scale and reach across the regions to find answers to some of the challenges that face our society.”
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About Paul Reid
Paul Reid is President at IPHA and Country Manager at Pfizer Healthcare Ireland. He has been with Pfizer for almost two decades. Paul’s industry experience spans four healthcare organisations, including Pfizer. He steered the integration of the Wyeth Pharmaceuticals business into the Pfizer Specialty Business Unit during the acquisition in 2009. Paul was involved in the integration of the Pharmacia Ireland and Hospira businesses in 2002 and 2016, respectively. He is currently working to complete the transition of the Upjohn Pfizer business (off-patent branded and generic established medicines business) to a new company and entity to be called Viatris.
About IPHA
IPHA represents the international originator biopharmaceutical industry in Ireland. We are committed to improving people’s health through innovative medicines and technologies.
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