< PreviousTHE ANSWER TO OPIOIDS 30 Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.net peer-reviewed journal PLOS One showed that physicians and other health care providers that receive gifts – such as meals, speaking fees, trips and grants – from the pharmaceutical industry prescribe more drugs per patient, and more expensive drugs, than providers who do not receive such financial favours. Even small gifts – identified by the study as being under $500 a year – had an impact on prescription habits, but the larger the monetary worth of the gift, the greater the effect. Following the revelations in the J&J trial, a federal judge in Ohio released secret data showing that a slew of corporations flooded the US with more than seventy-five billion pills over six years and targeted those regions already worst hit by the opioid epidemic. This data also showed that drug makers and pharmaceutical distributors doubled down on deliveries even in the face of overwhelming evidence of the epidemic and its death toll. These revelations widened the spotlight considerably from Purdue Pharma, the $3 billion turnover company owned principally by the Sackler family, who had, until recently, been the corporate face of the crisis with its high- strength opioid pill OxyContin. The company ramped up sales with a campaign in the noughties to change medical practice to make opioids the default treatment for long-term chronic pain and to increase prescriptions. To date, the company has been sued by states including Wisconsin, Iowa, © PureRadiancePhoto / Shutterstock.com 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 06/08/2019 09:33 Page 3Pharma Business International 31 www.pbiforum.net THE ANSWER TO OPIOIDS Kansas, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania over false claims and deceptive practices. This includes false safety claims and manipulating scientific papers to downplay the risks of addiction, among others. It’s unsurprising that the company, along with former co- Chairman Richard Sackler, have repeatedly denied all allegations raised in these various lawsuits. However, it isn’t just big pharma that’s being sued, with states going after retailers and chain drugstores – such as Walmart, Walgreens and Rite Aid – for the role they played in the epidemic. There’s no easy answer to the opioid epidemic but clearly these lawsuits are laying the groundwork for change, but there needs to be a fundamental shift in prescription habits and the pain medications available to patients in tandem with medication that helps combat addiction. Progress has sped up over the last few years with the first implant for opioid addition securing US approval in 2016, and in 2018, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first generic versions of Suboxone for the treatment of opioid dependence. There’s also been an increase in medications targeting specific symptoms of these addictions, such as opioid-induced constipation. Developing non-addictive and effective pain medication alongside a robust pipeline of opioid deterrents needs to be an industry-wide propriety not only to help lessen the current epidemic, but to ensure another never occurs. © Shutterstock /Iryna Imago 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 06/08/2019 09:33 Page 4PPMA TOTAL SHOW 32 Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.net W ith over 400 exhibitors and 1,600 brands, PPMA Total Show 2019 encompasses the breadth of the packaging and processing industry, including food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, household products and toiletries, building materials and supplies, pet care, micro-brewery and distilleries, FMCG, and contract packers. Exhibitors will showcase the very latest products and solutions in processing and packaging machinery, robotics and industrial vision systems. Dr Andrew Mint, Chief Executive Officer of PPMA Group of Associations, says: “PPMA Show 2018 saw the largest ever audience to a PPMA event, surpassing all our expectations. From the incredible range of new products to the vibrancy of debate during the conference, last year’s show reinforced our confidence that the industries we serve never stop developing and looking for new ways to achieve growth.” The Enterprise Zone PPMA Total Show 2019 will offer visitors a focal point for networking, discovery and live debate via its Enterprise Zone. Alongside holding dedicated meeting areas and activities, there will be a full conference programme across all three days of the show, which will include insightful keynotes courtesy of high profile and respected industry experts. Collectively, they will provide information on the latest challenges facing the packaging and processing industry. Case studies, panel discussions and presentations will provide visitors with real examples of best practice manufacturing and excellence in processing and packaging production, aiming to motivate and inspire visitors to improve their businesses. PPMA Group Industry Awards 2019 The PPMA Group Industry Awards 2019 will be held at the National Conference Centre (NCC) Birmingham. Now in its eighth year, the Awards ceremony brings together more than 300 industry professionals and stakeholders from the world of processing and packaging machinery and celebrates the finest examples of innovation, smart manufacturing and entrepreneurship. Entries will be judged by a panel of eight independent industry experts, including academia, end-users and PPMA Total Show 2019 Staged every three years, PPMA Total Show (1-3 October 2019, National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham) is the UK’s largest processing and packaging machinery exhibition. 32-33.qxp_Layout 1 06/08/2019 09:33 Page 1Pharma Business International 33 www.pbiforum.net PPMA TOTAL SHOW engineers. Featuring a three-course gala dinner, the PPMA Group Industry Awards will be hosted by UK television presenter and magician, Stephen Mulhern, who has appeared as host on Britain’s Got Talent, Catchphrase and Big Star’s Little Star. For further information and details on how to enter, visit: www.ppmatotalshow.co.uk/awards/ppma-group- industry-awards. Dr Mint adds: “This is an especially important time for the industries we represent. We’re entering a phase where political changes are set to impact our business dealings internationally and we’re also seeing, now more than ever, our practices and procedures being examined. “We’re very confident that this year’s PPMA Total Show will provide visitors with an array of product launches and thought-provoking content to help them drive their business forward.” Visitor registration for the PPMA Total Show 2019 is now open. To register and attend the show for free, visit the PPMA Total Show website at: www.ppmatotalshow.co.uk 32-33.qxp_Layout 1 06/08/2019 09:33 Page 2Tuesday 13 – Thursday 15 August Blood-Brain Barrier Delivery Summit Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill, USA This is the industry’s first conference dedicated to addressing the translational challenges of effective and safe delivery of CNS drug candidates. With an emphasis on biologics, and built with the field’s leading minds from the likes of Biogen, Genentech, Armagen and Denali, the summit will unite over 60 industry stakeholders giving delegates the opportunity to develop new partnerships and build on existing relationships. To find out more, visit www.b3dd-summit.com. Thursday 29 – Friday 30 August Pharma Brand Protection and Packaging 2019 Novotel Hotel, Mumbai This event provides an excellent platform for interacting with your potential and existing customers. It provides the best opportunity for you to position your brand and products at the forefront of your target audience, thus helping you to establish, or strengthen your place within the industry. The visitors who will attend the event are in a buying mind-set and may be looking for what you offer. This includes the key decision makers with direct purchasing power Pharma EVENTS © Shutterstock / K_E_N 34 Pharma Business International www.pbiforum.net © Nghia Khanh / Shutterstock.com academia and regulatory agencies are expected to attend. To find out more, visit https://bit.ly/2K4fHTN. Monday 23 – Wednesday 25 September PACK Expo Las Vegas Convention Centre Bringing packaging suppliers together with attending the event from the pharmaceutical companies. To find out more, visit www.pharmapackprotect.com. Tuesday 3 – Thursday 5 September Drug Discovery & Therapy World Congress 2019 Boston, USA This unique international conference will provide a platform for all pharmaceutical scientists, internists and primary care physicians to discuss important international breakthroughs in drug discovery and new therapeutics. The focus will be on the interdisciplinary fields of drug discovery, drug therapy and translational medicine. To find out more, email info@eurekaconference.com. Tuesday 3 – Wednesday 4 September BioManufacturing 2019 Sheraton Munich Arabellapark Hotel, Germany This conference will provide a forum to present innovative approaches and discuss hot topics related to product, process and analytics spanning a variety of biopharma product classes. Experts from industry, Wednesday 21 – Friday 23 August CPhl Korea 2019 COEX, Seoul CPhl Korea provides a dynamic meeting place for a wide range of industry suppliers to engage with purchasers and decision makers from the pharmaceutical industry in the region. It showcases the whole pharma supply chain form ingredients, contracting services to machinery and biopharmaceuticals, as well as hosting an extensive conference programme covering the latest trends and topics within the regional market. To find out more, visit www.cphi.com/korea. 34-35.qxp_Layout 1 06/08/2019 09:34 Page 1end users from every vertical industry, PACK Expo and the co-located Healthcare Packaging Expo 2019 will together provide the largest, most comprehensive packaging event of the year. To find out more, visit www.packexpolasvegas.com. Tuesday 8 – Thursday 10 October Pharmacovigilance 2019 Cambridge, Boston, USA The 19th Pharmacovigilance event will provide an important platform for stakeholders to discuss and share best practices in expatiating pharmacovigilance development. To find out more, visit https://bit.ly/2WP7fNC. Monday 4 – Tuesday 5 November Digital Therapeutics Strategic Partnership Summit Sofitel Los Angeles, Beverly Hills This summit is designed to be a meeting of the stakeholders, featuring real case studies and lessons learned to foster collaboration and ensure a common goal is defined. The goal is to provide tangible resources while discussing standards for regulatory pathways, the benefits of strategic partnerships, and the importance of data sharing and governance. To find out more, visit www.exlevents.com/digital-therapeutics-summit/registration. www.pbiforum.net Pharma Business International 35 © vintage_genes / Shutterstock.com Friday 13 – Saturday 14 September Nanomedicine Congress 2019 Venice, Italy This global meeting will assemble the world leaders in the expanding fields of pharmaceutical nanotechnology and nanomedicine. It will create an interface among professionals, academic faculty members, researchers, nanotech representatives, nanotechnologists, and a myriad of other experts. To find out more, visit www.lexisconferences.com/nanomedicine. Tuesday 10 – Wednesday 11 September World Drug Safety Congress 2019 Hilton Amsterdam, Netherlands The World Drug Safety Congress brings together key players from the drug safety community, providing delegates with an unrivalled opportunity to expose and address the drug safety challenges facing their industry. To find out more, visit https://bit.ly/2MffLTn. 34-35.qxp_Layout 1 06/08/2019 09:34 Page 2FEATURES Parkinson’s Exposé Ethics Digital Therapeutics Securing Approval Innovative Approaches Funding Next issue: Deadline - 25th September 2019 REGULARS News Events M&A Round-up Eye on approvals Visit us at www.pbiforum.net where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to our newsletters so you can have the latest news emailed to your inbox, in between printed issues? @pbiforumwww.pbiforum.net company/po-business-international 36.qxp_Layout 1 06/08/2019 09:39 Page 1Next >