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BGMA Elects New Association Vice-Chair

• Sandoz’ UK Country Head Diane DiGangi Trench takes up new role

The British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA), the representative trade body for off-patent prescription medicines, has elected Diane DiGangi Trench to be its new vice-chair.

DiGangi Trench, the Country Head of Sandoz UK, takes up the position replacing Xiromed’s Peter Ballard and in 12-months’ time will assume the association’s chair role from Accord’s Peter Kelly.

With over 25 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, DiGangi Trench has held a number of senior commercial roles including stints with Takeda and Astra Zeneca. She joined Sandoz in 2018 in the US, where she served as Vice-President, Market Access and Patient Services.

In 2021, she became the head of Sandoz’ UK business and in her two years in role, she has led the organisation through a post-COVID recovery and growth phase to prepare for the proposed spin out of the company from its parent, Novartis, expected later this year.

She said: “It’s a great honor to take on the role of Vice Chair of the BGMA. The success of the generics and biosimilar industry is essential to the functioning of the NHS. Generic medicines fill four out of five UK prescriptions and biosimilars enable the NHS to expand access to more patients. I am passionate about increasing the sustainability of our industry so we can continue to play our vital part in the health of the nation."

Mark Samuels, BGMA chief executive, said: “We are extremely fortunate to be able to call upon the expertise of Diane who has already added significant value through her role on the BGMA board and leadership of a key strategic committee.

“The industry is at a critical juncture and facing a number of challenges and therefore being able to add Diane’s experience to our leadership thinking will be very important. I also want to place on record my enormous thanks to the significant contribution from Peter Ballard. He has been a brilliant ambassador for our sector and has skillfully served the association in a number of roles including as chair and vice-chair on more than one occasion.”

The election results were announced at the association’s recent AGM which also saw David Solomon, Genesis Pharmaceuticals, confirmed as chair of the Economics & Commercial working group, with Mark Waller, Teva, becoming vice-chair.

ENDS

For further information about the BGMA please contact Jeremy Durrant on 07792918648 or email Jeremy.durrant@britishgenerics.co.uk

About the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA)

The BGMA is made up of members of the generic manufacturing supply industry, who between them account for approximately 85% of the total UK generic market by volume. A key feature of the strong generics industry in the UK is that it introduces competition to the supply of prescription medicines making them more affordable to the NHS and enhancing their availability to patients.

According to NHS figures (NHS Digital), more than a billion items are prescribed generically every year. The competition provided by generic medicines saves the NHS around £15billion annually.