Dr Andrew Ellis Appointed New BBA Chair

Teva UK’s Director of Secondary Care to take on lead role

The British Biosimilars Association (BBA), the trade body representing the interests of biosimilar manufacturers, has welcomed Dr Andrew Ellis as its new Chair.

Dr Ellis, Director of Secondary Care at Teva UK, is an existing member of the BBA’s steering group and will now succeed Kavya Gopal, from Sandoz, as its new Chair.

The BBA is an expert sector group of the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA). It works together with patient groups, healthcare professionals, regulators and policy makers to increase understanding of biosimilars and to drive a sustainable environment for the development, production and continuing use of these critical medicines across the UK.

Dr Ellis, a graduate from the University of Liverpool, began his career as a research scientist specialising in the development of agents to treat ischaemic heart disease. Since then, the vast majority of his career has focused on marketing and sales roles within the pharmaceuticals and medical devices sectors.

He joined Teva in 2007 as Marketing Manager for the Hospitals Business Unit and has also worked across branded (specialty) medicines in therapy areas ranging from oncology, pain, mental health, urology, immunotherapy, women’s health and neurology. His current role as Director of the Secondary Care business sees him focus on issues of market access, while leading the commercial and marketing teams.

Andrew said: “We are already seeing the real potential of biosimilars to transform the lives of patients with long term and complex conditions, such as cancer. I am looking forward to chairing the British Biosimilars Association as we continue our work to ensure access to quality, safe and effective biosimilar medicines for UK patients.”

Warwick Smith, Director General of the British Biosimilars Association (BBA), said: “Andrew is already a valued and active member of the BBA and we are very much looking forward to having someone of his depth of experience and enthusiasm as the Chair of the group. I would also like to thank our departing chair Kavya Gopal for her strong and effective leadership over the past years during an important time in the UK industry.”

Biopharmaceuticals are complex medicines made from living cells or organisms. They advance more treatment options for patients, some of whom suffer from untreated or undertreated conditions. They have the potential to deliver precise and personalised treatment. Biosimilars offer value-based treatment that is potentially less expensive than the originator biologic but similarly effective.

About the BBA
The British Biosimilars Association (BBA) is the expert sector group of the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) exclusively focused on biosimilars. The members of the BBA ensure access to high quality, safe and effective biosimilar medicines for UK patients. As industry experts, we partner with patients’ representatives, healthcare professionals, regulators and payers to increase understanding and to drive a sustainable environment for the development, production and continuing optimised use of biosimilar medicines across the UK.