In Washington, USA on November 29^th , has been conducted IFPMA Heads of Associations and Council meeting. Afterwards, on November 30 was held 28th General Assembly of International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers. On both events APCRG was presented by Executive Director Mr.Irakli Margvelashvili and head of the board Mr. Grigori Pirtskhalaishvili.

This year’s Assembly brought together more than 130 global health leaders from intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, academia, stakeholders, partners, and the research-based pharmaceutical industry to discuss the sustainable use of innovative medicines by patients in 2030. The Assembly featured high-level discussions, that focus on pharmaceutical innovation and its contributions to improving health around the world. Two moderated discussions highlighted the challenges and opportunities for innovative medicines. The assembly was attended by following speakers:

• Prof Peter J Hotez - Dean
  National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine;
• Moderator: Mr Riz Khan
  International Journalist;
• Dr Cary Adams - Chief Executive Officer
  Union for international Cancer Control;
• Dr Anselm Hennis - Director
  Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health,
  Pan American Health Organization;
• Dr Andreas Seiter - Senior Health Specialist, Pharmaceuticals
  World Bank;
• Prof Kenji Shibuya - Professor and Chair, Department of Global Health Policy
  The University of Tokyo;
• Dr Durhane Wong-Rieger - President and CEO
  Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders;
• Ms Mary Lou Valdez - Associate Commissioner for International Programs
  U.S. Food and Drug Administration;
• Dr Bente Mikkelsen - Head of Secretariat
  Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases
  World Health Organization;
• Prof John Reeder - Director
  Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR).

Ian C. Read, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer has been elected new President of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) for two-year tenure. Mr. Read plans to put an emphasis on fostering innovative health ecosystems, expanding partnerships, focusing on people/patient-centric and systemic approaches to ensure health through the life course.

Thomas Cueni of Switzerland has been named the next director general of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA). Cueni will succeed Eduardo Pisani who recently announced his departure after seven years at the helm of IFPMA.

Photos of the Assembly can be found here.

•  In April 2016 the company TNS conducted marketing research, on fair market value for speakers/moderators invited on professional, scientific or marketing meetings intended for Healthcare Professionals and organized and sponsored by pharmaceutical companies aiming to provide scientific or educational information and/or inform healthcare professionals about pharmaceutical products.
• The aim of the research was to determine the speakers/moderators real fair market value compared to the data of 2014 (Code establishment date). Were interviewed both, health care specialists (opinion leaders) and pharmaceutical companies representatives in Georgia, including APCRG members and non-members.

• By the decision of APCRG Board Members Meeting, held on November 8th, has been made an update of the Code of Practice.  Appendix №2, paragraph №14 has been modified following the TNS research results.

The updated version of  the Code of Practice can be seen on link:

APCRG CODE OF CONDUCT 2014.pdf

APCRG members general meeting has accepted and validated membership request submitted by the Georgian representation of the international clinical research company  Pharmaceutical Research Associates Health Sciences. More infromation about company and it's international operations can be seen on company web site

APCRG has sponsored  SEVENTH INTERNATIOINAL  MEDICAL CONGRESS of SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN MEDICAL FORUM , organized by Georgian Medical Association (GMA). Congress was held in Batumi and there were participants from many countries, health care specialists from different regions of Georga have been presented as well. Executive Director of APCRG  Irakli Margvelashvili has made an presentation regarding APCRG activities in Georgia. Details of event can be seen on link

Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between APCRG and  Association of Healthcare Journalists (AHJ).Within framework of the memorandum,  AHJ will publish and spread  news, infromation about  projects and pending events prepared and planned by APCRG.  Some joint projects can be performed as well.

Educational conference “The process is the product", organized by Association of pharmaceutical Companies Representatives in Georgia took place on the 5^th of June, 2016, at Ambassador hotel, Kachreti, Georgia.

Representatives of MOH, Drag agency and regulatory departments, some clinicians, experts and representative of Patients organizations attended the conference.

Specially for this meeting Association of pharmaceutical Companies Representatives in GeorgiaInvited Professor Mr. Bruno Flamioni, professor of pharmacology at the University of Namuris, European Medicines Agency (EMA) expert (2000-2011ts.). Mr. Bruno presented bio-pharmaceutical products and international standards and regulations based on the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines provided. He provided the modest definition and concept of biosimilar products and intended copies. Were discussed the examples from different European countries.

Second part of the event was “culinary debates” and the objective of such activity was to show and prove that even with the same products final result can be very different.

Conclusion

There is a need to identify and formulate policy measures in order to create competitive, efficient and sustainable off-patent biologic markets. Biologic medicines have, and continue to play a key role in disease treatment, and due to their unique characteristics, it needs to be recognized that policies must be designed specifically for biological medicines. Biosimilar products have an important role to play in the healthcare system for the benefit of patients, provided that they are approved based on rigorous, science-based standards. The decision whether the biosimilar is an appropriate treatment for the patient should be confined to the physician and patient. Patients should have access to the best treatment for their individual needs, and treatment decisions should be made first on the basis of clinical judgment and secondly on the basis of the overall value proposition offered by individual medicines.

During the conference was announced that IFPMA-'s international position will be presented in writing the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia

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On May 16th , General Meeting of APCRG members have elected members of APCRG Board. Following persons have been elected as Board members:
M.Giorgobiani (Sanofi- Aventis), M. Khetsuriani (Servier),  M.Maisuradze (Astra Zeneca), M.Asatiani (ROCHE),G.Pirtskhalaishvili (Sandoz)
On the position of Board Chairman have been unanimously elected Mr. Grigori Pirtskhalaishvili (Sandoz)

APCRG members general meeting has accepted and validated membership request submitted by company  Schering-Plough Central East AG in Georgia

APCRG members general meeting has accepted and validated membership request submitted by company Bayer Consumer Health Sky Media, Georgia

APCRG members general meeting has accepted and validated membership request submitted by company JSC " Bayer Pharma A.G. " Representative in Georgia