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Pierre Fréchette Elected Chair of Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Toronto, January 8, 2009 – The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) is pleased to announce the election of Pierre Fréchette, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sandoz Canada, as Chair of CGPA.

Mr. Fréchette is a member of CGPA’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors and, until his election to the Chair position, fulfilled the role of Vice Chair of CGPA.

“My goal is to help create the best environment for building a world-class Canadian generic pharmaceutical industry,” Mr. Fréchette said. “CGPA will work to create more jobs, increase R&D spending and attract more investment, while increasing the availability of high quality affordable generic medicines for Canadians and the international community.”

Mr. Fréchette noted that, while generic pharmaceuticals already fill half of all prescriptions in Canada for only 22 percent of the $20-billion Canadians spend annually on prescription drugs, there is still significant room for growth, and additional health-care savings, when compared to other countries.

“Given the uncertain economic outlook, it is more important than ever for us to work with governments, employers, unions, patients and our partners in the pharmacy community to maximize the value generic prescription medicines provide to Canadians, and increase their role in helping to preserve health-care services,” Mr. Fréchette said.

With more than 26 years of domestic and international experience in the health-care industry, Mr. Fréchette has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sandoz Canada since 2004. He joined Sabex, which was subsequently purchased by Sandoz, as President and Chief Operating Officer in 2002 following the transaction with RoundTable Healthcare Partners. Before joining Sabex, he held a variety of executive positions in marketing, business development and manufacturing at Baxter International.

Mr. Fréchette said he is also excited that Canada will be hosting for the first time the annual International Generic Pharmaceutical Alliance (IGPA) Conference, which will be held in Montreal from September 30 through October 2, 2009.  

About the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) represents Canada’s generic drug industry – a dynamic group of companies that specialize in the production of high quality, affordable generic drugs and fine chemicals and in conducting the clinical trials required for government approval of generic drugs. The industry plays an important role in controlling health-care costs in Canada. Generic drugs are dispensed to fill 50 per cent of all prescriptions but account for only 22 per cent of the $20-billion Canadians spend annually on prescription medicines.

For more information, please contact:

Jeff Connell
Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA)
Tel: (416) 223-2333
Mobile: (647) 274-3379
Email: jeff@canadiangenerics.ca

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	Pierre Fréchette Elected Chair of Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
	Pierre Fréchette Elected Chair of Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association