Medicines New Zealand

1. Business / Trading Name: Medicines New Zealand Incorporated (trading as “Medicines New Zealand”) – formerly Researched Medicines Industry Association of New Zealand Incorporated (name changed in 2010).

2. Company Number: 216624 (incorporation number)

3. NZBN: 9429042736097

4. Entity Type: Incorporated Society (industry non-profit).

5. Business Classification: Industry association for innovative pharmaceutical companies (prescription medicines and vaccines).

6. Industry Category: Biopharmaceutical / pharmaceutical industry advocacy.

7. Year Founded: 1961 (registered 31 Oct 1961 under former name).

8. Addresses:

• Registered Office: The Lambton Centre, Level 10, 117 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand (current since April 2020).

• Postal Address: PO Box 10447, The Terrace, Wellington 6143, New Zealand.

9. Website URL:

http://www.medicinesnz.co.nz

.

10. LinkedIn URL: https://nz.linkedin.com/company/medicines-new-zealand.

11. Company Hub NZ URL: Data Not Found (no dedicated CompanyHub page; listed on BizDB).

12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.businessregisters.govt.nz/sber-businesses/viewInstance/view.html?id=229a78e05307b6d8bf1b29667f00cb179b563a7e171518d0&_timestamp=3077668748714988

13. Social Media URLs: Twitter: @MedicinesNZ ; Facebook: “Fairness in Focus” page (campaign run by Medicines NZ).

14. Ultimate Holding Company: None (independent incorporated society with member companies as stakeholders).

15. Key Shareholders: None (non-profit society – funded by member subscriptions, not shares).

16. Leadership: Dr. Graeme Jarvis – Chief Executive Officer ; Todd Krieble – Independent Board Chair (since May 2023). The Board includes senior executives from member pharma companies (e.g. Vanessa Gascoigne of MSD as Vice Chair).

17. Staff: Small Wellington-based secretariat (~5 staff). Key personnel include Grace Abbott (Digital Communications Advisor), Tanya Baker (Head of Regulatory, Science & Technical Advice), Ali Bray (Office Manager & Board Secretary), and Jennifer Lei (Research Analyst), supporting the CEO.

18. Staff with Previous Government Roles: Todd Krieble (Board Chair) – previously held senior roles in NZ Government agencies including the Ministry of Health and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. (No other current staff known to have been government officials.)

19. Past Employees: Dr. Peter Jansen – former Independent Chair (departed 2023 to head the Health Quality & Safety Commission) ; Denise Wood – Chief Executive in early 2010s (public spokesperson during NZ–TPP discussions) ; Kevin Sheehy – General Manager in late 2000s (advocated changes to PHARMAC).

20. Clients: Not applicable – Medicines NZ represents member companies rather than serving external clients.

21. Industries/Sectors Represented: Pharmaceutical manufacturers and biopharmaceutical sector (research-based prescription medicines and vaccines). Members are primarily innovative global drug companies and vaccine makers operating in NZ.

22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Regular submissions to government and Parliament on policy and legislation (e.g. submissions on Therapeutic Products Bill, PHARMAC consultations, annual Budget statements). Medicines NZ representatives frequently appear in parliamentary select committee processes (written and oral evidence, such as on trade agreements and health legislation). The association also hosts an annual “Parliamentary Dinner” to engage MPs on medicines policy.

23. Affiliations: Member of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA). Works alongside Medicines Australia and similar bodies (informal collaboration on trans-Tasman issues). Partnered with the NZ Medical Association on a joint transparency initiative (see Sponsorships/Collaborations).

24. Sponsorships / Collaborations: Initiated a joint Transparency Initiative with the New Zealand Medical Association in 2021, under which member companies publish annual “Transfer of Value” reports disclosing payments to healthcare professionals. Collaborates with patient advocacy groups on shared goals (e.g. Rare Disorders NZ in campaigning for better access to rare disease medicines). Sponsors research and innovation via the Value of Medicines Award program (funding grants for medicine-related research since 2011).

25. Events: Hosts an annual Parliamentary Dinner at Parliament, bringing together MPs, health sector leaders, patients and industry to discuss medicine access (the 2022 dinner was hosted by the Minister of Health and attended by numerous MPs). Organises industry forums and workshops for members (e.g. training on PHARMAC submission processes). Runs the Value of Medicines Awards ceremonies to recognise pharmaceutical research achievements in NZ.

26. Political Donations: Data Not Found. No record of Medicines NZ (as an organisation) making any direct political party donations in the past decade (major donations disclosures show no pharmaceutical industry association contributions). Member companies tend to engage via lobbying rather than overt party donations in NZ’s context.

27. Controversies: Transparency Concerns: Medicines NZ long resisted a mandatory public register of lobbying, opting for voluntary disclosure of pharmaceutical company payments to doctors only in 2021. It operates largely behind closed doors, which watchdogs say limits public insight into its influence on policy. Direct-to-Consumer Advertising: Public health experts have noted that NZ’s continued allowance of direct prescription drug advertising (unique alongside the US) persisted in the Therapeutic Products Bill, raising questions whether industry lobbying helped stave off a ban.

28. Other Information of Note: Medicines NZ’s original name (Researched Medicines Industry Association, or RMIA) reflected its focus on research-based pharma companies; the rebrand in 2010 to “Medicines New Zealand” aligned with the title of the government’s Medicines Strategy, perhaps bolstering its public legitimacy. The organisation maintains a self-regulatory Code of Practice setting ethical standards for pharma marketing in NZ (enforced by a complaints committee). Medicines NZ publishes an annual NZ Medicines Landscape report benchmarking NZ’s medicine access against other countries (often highlighting NZ’s relatively low drug funding), which it uses to campaign for increased public investment in medicines.

29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: No. Medicines NZ is not listed as a recipient of the government’s COVID-19 wage subsidy in 2020–21 (indicating it did not apply, likely due to stable funding from member firms despite the pandemic).

Sources:

1. Medicines New Zealand (@MedicinesNZ) – social media profile, X (Twitter), https://twitter.com/medicinesnz?lang=en

2. Medicines New Zealand – Who We Are, Medicines New Zealand (official website), https://www.medicinesnz.co.nz/who-we-are/

3. Medicines New Zealand – Our People (Secretariat & Board), Medicines New Zealand, https://www.medicinesnz.co.nz/who-we-are/our-people

4. Values & Advocacy – Medicines New Zealand, Medicines New Zealand, https://www.medicinesnz.co.nz/who-we-are/values-advocacy

5. Medicines New Zealand Inc (company profile excerpt), Katalyst Business (NZ business database), https://www.katalystbusiness.co.nz/business-profiles/677712.html

6. Medicines New Zealand Inc – Company Information, BizDB (NZ), https://www.bizdb.co.nz/company/9429042736097/

7. Medicines New Zealand Incorporated – NZ Companies Office entry, BizDB (sourced from Companies Office), https://www.bizdb.co.nz/company/9429042736097/

8. Lexology Q&A: Pharma & medical device regulation in NZ (Tompkins Wake, Dec 2019), Lexology, https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=f73dafa5-a1fd-46cc-b2d1-d8962dfb2a54

9. Medicines New Zealand Code of Practice (Edition 17), Medicines New Zealand / IFPMA, https://www.ifpma.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Medicines-New-Zealand-Code-of-Practice-2019.pdf

10. Medicines New Zealand – Member Associations Listing, IFPMA (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations), https://www.ifpma.org/members/medicines-new-zealand/

11. Budget 2024 Medicines Investment: “Broken Hearts and a Third-World Position” (Media Release 31 May 2024), Medicines New Zealand, https://www.medicinesnz.co.nz/resources/media-releases/media-releases-single/budget-2024-medicines-investment-broken-hearts-and-a-third-world-position

12. Medicines NZ congratulates Dr Peter Jansen… and welcomes new Independent Chair, Mr Todd Krieble (Media Release 22 May 2023), Medicines New Zealand, https://www.medicinesnz.co.nz/resources/media-releases/media-releases-single/medicines-new-zealand-congratulates-dr-peter-jansen-on-his-new-hqsc-role-and-welcomes-new-independent-chair-mr-todd-krieble

13. Graeme Jarvis: Medicines NZ CEO on Govt’s plan to repeal Therapeutic Products Act (Mike Hosking interview, May 2024), Newstalk ZB / iHeart, https://www.iheart.com/podcast/211-the-mike-hosking-breakfast-24837692/episode/graeme-jarvis-medicines-new-zealand-ceo-174601064/

14. Medicines New Zealand – LinkedIn Company Page, LinkedIn, https://nz.linkedin.com/company/medicines-new-zealand

15. Parliamentary Dinner 2022 – Genomic Medicine (event summary), Medicines New Zealand, https://www.medicinesnz.co.nz/who-we-are/parliamentary-dinner

16. Medicines New Zealand Submissions (2015–2025), Medicines New Zealand, https://www.medicinesnz.co.nz/resources/submissions

17. NZ Doctor: “Pharmac funding promises… much more needed” (Pharmacy Today, 27 Sep 2023), NZDoctor.co.nz, https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/news/pharmac-funding-promises-are-good-start-much-more-needed

18. NZ Doctor: “Medicines NZ publishes 2022 Transfer of Value reports” (Media release, 25 Aug 2023), NZDoctor.co.nz, https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/undoctored/medicines-new-zealand-publishes-2022-transfer-value-reports-reinforcing

19. Rare Disorders NZ – Media Statement: PHARMAC’s funding increase (10 May 2020), raredisorders.org.nz, https://raredisorders.org.nz/learn/media-statement-pharmacs-funding-increase/

20. RNZ: NZ political donations have more than tripled (analysis), Radio NZ, https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/487155/why-new-zealand-political-donations-have-more-than-tripled

21. NZ Herald: National received nearly $3m in donations in 2020, NZ Herald, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-party-received-nearly-3m-in-large-political-donations-in-2020/HO2MQHYWORHYPMKXJ7BBX3KOOA/

22. Bilaterals.org: “Pharmac under fire ahead of US free-trade talks” (citing industry campaign), bilaterals.org, https://www.bilaterals.org/?pharmac-under-fire-ahead-of-us

23. The Spinoff: “Why does NZ still allow direct advertising of prescription drugs?” (D. Menkes et al., 8 Aug 2024), The Spinoff, https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/08-08-2024/why-does-new-zealand-still-allow-direct-advertising-of-prescription-drugs

24. BMJ: “NZ agency under pressure to pay more for drugs” (Owen Dyer, 2010), BMJ 2010;341:c7068, https://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c7068.full (Kevin Sheehy quoted)

25. Scoop: Medicines NZ welcomes TPP progress (Denise Wood, 2015), Scoop.co.nz, http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1507/S00946/medicines-nz-welcomes-fourth-tpp-negotiating-round.htm

26. Stuff: Parties vow not to let Pharmac fall off ‘fiscal cliff’ (26 Sep 2023), Stuff.co.nz, https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/132220347/national-and-labour-promise-not-to-let-pharmac-fall-off-fiscal-cliff

27. 1 News: ACT calls for “productivity focus” for Pharmac (27 Sep 2023), 1News.co.nz, https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/09/27/act-calls-for-productivity-focus-for-pharmac/

28. Ministry of Health: Pharmac Review – Final Report (Feb 2022), health.govt.nz (Appendices on consultation submissions), https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/pharmac-review-final-report.pdf

29. Medicines NZ – 2019 Parliamentary Dinner with Sir Andrew Dillon, Medicines NZ (event archive), https://www.medicinesnz.co.nz/who-we-are/parliamentary-dinner (2019 section)

30. Transparency International NZ – National Integrity System Assessment 2013 (mentions pharma lobby), Transparency International NZ, https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2013_NewZealandNIS_EN.pdf

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz