Hanan Sboul takes over the position of IGBA Chair For immediate release Geneva, 7 January 2020 IGBA, the International Generic and Biosimilar medicines Association (IGBA), representing global manufacturers of generic and biosimilar medicines, announced today that Hanan Sboul, Secretary General of the Jordanian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, is taking over the position of IGBA Chair for 2020 from Jim Keon, President of the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association and Biosimilars Canada. Key milestones were achieved for the IGBA during 2019, namely the signature of a memorandum of understanding with the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote access i and the adoption by the International Council for Harmonization (ICH) of a new topic proposal on bioequivalenceii . “The WHO agreement underscores the importance of generic and biosimilar medicines to increasing worldwide patient access to safe, effective and high-quality affordable medicines and the ICH developments demonstrate the importance of global harmonization of standards to support global development of generic medicines and competitiveness” commented the outgoing Chair Jim Keon. “The December U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement also showcases that Policy Makers are able to strike a fair balance between IPR protection and public health needs”, he added. “Moving forward trade negotiations must prioritize measures to provide access to affordable medicines for patients and to foster a competitive business environment for the generic and biosimilar medicines industries”, Jim Keon emphasized. Hanan Sboul is a long-standing IGBA Board Member and now becomes the first Chairwoman of the association. She brings with her decades of leadership and drug policy experience. “I am thrilled to take over the Chair of IGBA and look forward to ensuring that the 2019 achievements lead to tangible results in the years to come” commented Hanan Sboul. “Increased and sustainable patient access to high quality medicines worldwide, in line with the UN Member States Sustainable Development Goals, long-term sustainability of our industries as well as balanced intellectual property systems remain our key priorities”, she added. “We need to be able to deliver on competition in the pharmaceutical sector, continue to address drug shortages and supply-chain security, as well as further stimulate regulatory convergence, harmonization and reliance”, Hanan Sboul concluded.

News source: https://www.igbamedicines.org/news/118-hanan-sboul-takes-over-the-position-of-igba-chair-january-2020