|
|
|
Posted 5 December 2023 AM
Freshly retired former TGA boss Professor John Skerritt is back in the game, joining the Medicines Australia Board as an Independent Selected Director.
Skerritt retired in April after more than 10 years as Deputy Secretary Health Products Regulation Group at the Department of Health and Aged Care.
"I am delighted to announce Professor John Skerritt will be joining the Medicines Australia Board to provide strategic leadership, informed by decades of government experience, at a pivotal time for the pharmaceutical industry," Medicines Australia Board Chair, Dr Anna Lavelle said.
"John's knowledge of the Australian therapeutics regulatory environment is unmatched. This expertise is critical as Australia seeks to harness the step change in technology and ensure that Australian patients have access to new innovative therapies as they become available.
"John's deep understanding of government, and policy development and implementation, will be invaluable as Medicines Australia builds on the work undertaken to date with the Government on the reforms needed to speed up patient access to new medicines."
 |
Under Skerritt's leadership, the TGA implemented the Medicines and Medical Devices Review, digital transformation, the regulation of medicinal cannabis plus the rapid registration of COVID vaccines and treatments. He also played a leading role in international harmonisation of regulation.
He has a reputation as a straight-shooter offering frank responses at countless senate hearings, appearing on TV and radio to explain the work of the TGA and when necessary, has fired back at critics using science and cold hard facts to set the record straight.
Skerritt said he is looking forward to working closely with the industry at such a transformational time.
"It is a tremendous honour to be joining the Board of Medicines Australia as an Independent Selected Director," he said.
"The ability of innovative medicines to positively impact the lives of so many Australians drove me to choose this area as my university major some 45 years ago.
 |
| Professor John Skerritt |
"Now, in the same way over, it has been rewarding for me to support patient access to innovative medicines through leadership of Australia's regulator over the last decade, I now look forward to working with Australia's top leaders in the sector through this new Board role."
Skerritt has been busy in 'retirement'. He is Enterprise Professor in Health Research Impact at the University of Melbourne, advising academics and the university on commercial and policy translation of research portfolios, as well as an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health of the University of Sydney.
He is also currently Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council of the UK-based Centre for Innovation in Regulatory Science (CIRS) and is a member of the Board of the Singapore-based Centre for Regulatory Excellence. CIRS is a "safe harbour" for policy discussions, workshops and research between global industry leaders, regulators, HTA bodies and academia.
Skerritt started in the new MA role yesterday (Monday).
Christine Spiteri
If you were passed this article by a colleague, chances are you've missed other important Pharma in Focus articles and features.
To find out more, go to www.pharmainfocus.com.au and sign up for a FREE Full Text trial
Pharma in Focus
Australia's most trusted source of pharma news
© Copyright Lush Media. End of News - printed 03 February 2025