Aspen brings quality, affordable branded medicine to Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Aspen, Africa’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer and the biggest listed pharmaceutical group in the health care sector of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, through Aspen Pharmacare Australia, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Australia, aims to make high-quality branded medicine available to Filipino patients at affordable cost through the launch of its local subsidiary, Aspen Philippines.

Stephen Saad, Aspen Group chief executive, said, “We take great pride in formally opening our office in the Philippines. This business initiative forms part of Aspen’s stated global expansion strategy into emerging and established markets, and we look forward to working closely with the Philippine government and local regulatory bodies in providing quality products to meet the health care needs of the Filipino people.”

“We are privileged to support efforts of the Philippine government and other stakeholders in improving Filipino patients’ access to quality, effective and safe medicine that are within the means of the general public,” said Greg Lan, chief executive officer of Aspen Pharmacare Australia.

“Our product portfolio includes some of the most prescribed brands in Australia, South Africa, Middle East, North America, Germany, and Canada. We want to bring to Asia affordable prescriptions with the Aspen stamp of quality,” said Trevor Ziman, deputy CEO of Aspen Pharmacare Australia.

“It is a thrill to change someone’s life through our medicine — this is the passion that drives us,” Ziman said.

“Aspen products are renowned for their efficacy, quality and affordability. We look forward to working with Filipino health care professionals in improving access to Aspen’s medicine,” said Keith Kai Cheung Iu, director for Asian markets of Aspen Asia Co. Ltd.

Senior Aspen executives were in attendance at Aspen Philippines’ media launch yesterday at The Conservatory Room of the Peninsula Hotel Manila in Makati City.

Aspen Pharmacare Australia is a division of Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. that supplies branded and generic medicine in about 100 countries.

Aspen has 18 manufacturing facilities in 13 pharmaceutical manufacturing sites on six continents. Four of the sites are located in South Africa, four in Australia, and one each in Kenya, Tanzania, Brazil, Mexico and Germany.

Aspen has an outstanding generic pipeline developed under the direction of highly skilled scientists and in collaboration with global pharmaceutical companies and research facilities.

Established in May 2001, Aspen Pharmacare Australia has three divisions responsible for marketing its broad portfolio: Branded Prescription, Generics, and OTC/Consumer products.

Its extensive product range covers the numerous therapeutic categories, including cardiovascular, anti-infectives, ophthalmics, pain management, gastrointestinal, respiratory, cough/cold, and vitamins and minerals.

Aspen Pharmacare Australia is one of the top generics companies in Australia and is among the country’s top five OTC companies.

Aside from marketing and distributing products owned by the Aspen Group, Aspen Pharmacare Australia also markets license-in products of major multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Driven by its unique entrepreneurial spirit, Aspen Pharmacare Australia identifies and markets medicine in specialist areas that are no longer actively promoted by pharmaceutical companies because they are either off patent or their volumes are too low to justify the cost of promotion.

“Some of these ‘overlooked’ medicine are still effective and have modes of action not matched by newer products — they are also cost-effective for governments and consumers. Doctors, who are preoccupied with their heavy daily workload, often need just a simple reminder about the existence of such medicine. That’s where we come in,” Lan said.

“We are honored and grateful that Aspen chose to establish its first Asian subsidiary in the Philippines. Our partnership with a global pharmaceutical leader not only makes medicine of superior quality with prices that are within means available to Filipino patients, it also provides employment to local talents,” said Ace Itchon, president and CEO of Aspen Philippines Inc., the latest business unit of the Aspen Group.

“This is part of our commitment to be a steadfast partner of the government in its endeavor to improve health care access and to provide greater employment opportunities for Filipinos as well,” Itchon added.

Aspen Philippines commenced operations last January with only four employees. After two months, the staff complement has increased to nearly 100. 

“We are exploring numerous opportunities and envision this number increasing as we expand our business in this part of the world,” Itchon said.

“As a trusted pharmaceutical company, Aspen is committed to positively impacting people’s lives by providing Filipino health care providers and consumers with effective and safe medicine that are within the means of the ordinary Filipino,” Itchon added.