Pharma in Focus

Sigma Healthcare has reported "above the norm" sales growth driven by weight loss drugs, with the CEO describing them as "a rising tide" that "has lifted all the groups". Over the past decade Chemist Warehouse has delivered a compound annual growth rate of 11.3 per cent, but for the financial year 2026 it saw like-for-like sales growth of 13.4 per cent. Total group sales grew 15.5 per cent to hit $10.835 billion.

Physicians, researchers and advocates were among the winners as Patients Australia presented the 2026 Patient’s Choice Awards in Melbourne last night. The awards, sponsored by Chiesi Australia, were given in 15 categories, to individuals and organisations for making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their families. The winners received their awards at the Regent Theatre in front of an audience that included the patients, carers and families that had nominated them.

Astellas Australia has named Guillaume Pfeiffer as its new General Manager, effective 12 October 2026. Pfeiffer brings more than 20 years of pharmaceutical leadership experience across commercial strategy, market access, launch excellence, medical strategy and government affairs.

Twelve health-sector organisations - from global pharma giants, including Sandoz Servier Laboratories, and LEO Pharma - to small clinics with under 30 staff, have made the Best Workplaces in Australia 2026 list. The annual ranking honours 100 Australian companies out of hundreds, and is primarily decided by the survey results ofthe 128,405 employees it was sent to nationwide.

Sydney-based Pearce IP founder Naomi Pearce has again been recognised as one of the top IP practitioners globally. The 2026 edition of IAM Strategy 300, an annual research project that identifies top practitioners around the world who are taking IP portfolio management to the next level, listed Pearce in two sectors: Legal, and IP Management Consultancy.

ANZ General Manager, Clint Holland, has pulled back the curtain on what makes Sandoz one of Australia’s Best Workplaces, revealing that purpose sits at its core, alongside a genuine people first mindset. The generic and biosimilars giant, which split from Novartis in 2023 to become a standalone company was one of three pharmas named on the Best Workplaces in Australia 2026 list, compiled by Great Places to Work, and the only pharma named in the medium-size category.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is calling on the Federal Government to freeze the general PBS co-pay price at $25 until 2030, urging the move would deliver a “direct disinflationary effect”. Concession card holders already have their co-payment frozen at $7.70 until 2030. “Australians paying the general co-payment deserve the same certainty,” Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Professor Trent Twomey, said. To see the whole article please log in.

Australian cellular health company Longevity Life Sciences (LLS) has teamed up with Japanese giant Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) to bring a pipeline of MGC-manufactured pharmaceutical-grade cellular health compounds to the Australian market. The compounds will be sold through LLS’s CellVive ingredient platform.

Tenured employees across pharma have become part of the changes sweeping industry with a number of 'longer-termers' making big career moves to different companies. After 15 years at BMS, Cara de Reuck has joined CSL Seqirus as Cardiovascular Medical Lead (People Leader). She finished up at BMS last month, her final role there as Senior Medical Manager Immuno-Oncology (Melanoma). "Joining CSL and stepping into a medical leadership role marks an exciting new chapter in my career.

How long does it take Big Pharma to make US$1 million (AU$1.4 million) in net profit? For Johnson & Johnson, it’s less than 20 minutes. J&J made US$1 million every 19 minutes 37 seconds in 2025, according to an analysis by the broker comparison website BestBrokers, putting it top of the pharma charts for speed of profit. And it wasn’t the only pharma to break the half-hour mark. Eli Lilly made a million every 25 minutes 28 seconds, and MSD every 28 minutes 48 seconds.