Buyers and suppliers in the broad pharmaceutical supply chain are invited to join one of four focus groups to be held next week in Sydney and Melbourne.
The development of the ‘Pharmaceutical Industry Supply Chain Index’ (PharmaISCI) seeks to support the industry with improvements in the pharmaceutical ecosystem in Australia.
The PharmaISCI will assist SMEs and suppliers to enter the pharmaceutical supply chain at common and appropriate points, while also improving the access of supply-chain buyers to well-prepared suppliers.
AusBiotech and Deloitte will convene the following focus groups:
Focus group 1, biotechnology companies (supplier/buyer): This focus group is to test the PharmaISCI with biotechnology companies developing technologies for licencing or partnering. These companies hold the unique position in the supply chain or being both suppliers and buyers of product and services. This focus group will be held in Melbourne (CBD) on Thursday 5 May 1.00 – 2.30pm.
Focus group 2, service providers (supplier): This focus group is to test the PharmaISCI with companies that provide products and services, including advisory services and clinical trials, to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. This focus group will be held in Melbourne (CBD) on Thursday 5 May 10.30am – 12.00noon.
Focus group 3, multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies (buyer): This focus group will test the PharmaISCI with companies that buy products and services. This focus group will be held in Sydney (CBD) on Tuesday 3 May 10.30am – 12.00noon.
Focus group 4, national/ local biotechnology companies (buyer): This focus group will test the PharmaISCI with Australian companies that buy products and services. This focus group will be held by teleconference or in Sydney (CBD) on Tuesday 3 May 1.00 - 2.30pm.
The project will deliver a tool that consists of a set of industry-approved questions that have been tested, and accompanied by weightings, indicators and context, to enable SMEs to assess their ability to supply into the sector and identify areas for development.
The tool will measure the degree of readiness of the SME against the requirements of the pharmaceutical sector. The project, which commenced in February, is due to be completed in July 2016.
The focus groups will validate and further develop information that has been gathered during stakeholder meetings held in March and April, which determined the products and services that are outsourced and the key drivers for outsourcing, the current limitations and challenges and the key requirements an SME needs to demonstrate when seeking to contract with a pharmaceutical company buyer.
For further information or to register, please contact Lorraine Chiroiu, AusBiotech’s Chief Industry Affairs Officer at lchiroiu@ausbiotech.org or 03 9828 1400.