| Mr. Haruo Naito Confirmed as New President of the IFPMA |
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04/11/2009 17:00 (16 Day 20:35 minutes ago) | |||||
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The FINANCIAL -- The membership of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) on November 4 confirmed Mr. Haruo Naito, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eisai Co., Ltd., as its new President.
Mr. Naito will serve as IFPMA President until the next IFPMA Assembly, in the autumn of 2010. His predecessor, Mr. Fred Hassan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Schering-Plough Corporation, stepped down as IFPMA President on the completion of his company’s merger with Merck & Co., Inc. Mr. Naito was re-elected as Vice President of the IFPMA in November 2008, at which time Mr. David Brennan, Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca, was elected as the other Vice President. The IFPMA Vice President’s position vacated by Mr. Naito will be filled by Mr. Lamberto Andreotti, President and Chief Operating Officer of Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Mr. Naito said: “As IFPMA President since 2006, Mr. Hassan has provided wise leadership in difficult times and it is an honor to be asked to succeed him. He has encouraged the IFPMA to engage more with other stakeholders, especially those in developing countries, and we can build on the outreach initiated under his presidency. The value of this interactive approach is exemplified by our ongoing collaboration with the WHO and others to deliver a rapid and effective response to the threat of an H1N1 influenza pandemic.”
The IFPMA’s mission is to serve as our industry’s interface with the WHO, WTO, WIPO and other United Nations’ bodies, both in Geneva and elsewhere. For these organizations, improving health in developing countries is a major objective. The IFPMA communicates to them our industry’s commitment to help achieve this goal and advocates a policy approach that will continue to strengthen access to existing medicines, and further increase research and development for diseases of the developing world, while preserving existing critical incentives for innovation. But the IFPMA also exists to stimulate action, by helping to increase our members’ involvement in collaborative ventures undertaken by intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations.
In addition, the IFPMA provides a forum in which our industry can look ahead, to identify emerging new problems and to evaluate collaborative strategies to address them, working with public and private sector partners. Examples of looming issues in which the IFPMA may be able to make a useful contribution include the growth of non-communicable diseases in developing countries, and the challenge of finding equitable and sustainable solutions for strengthening healthcare in emerging countries with an economically diverse population.
Mr. Naito concluded: “Many of the problems of the developing world are familiar, and many can be addressed by applying more resources using current, proven approaches. Other issues, including some relating to emerging countries, are only coming into focus now, and their potential magnitude indicates a need for concerted collective approaches. The IFPMA will represent our industry in international discussions on such issues and it will do so responsibly, collaboratively and with a strong belief in the unique contribution that our members make to advancing global health.”
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