HDA Presents 2024 Distribution Management Award to Apotex
March 11, 2024Today, the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) honored Apotex Corp. with the 2024 Distribution Management Award (DMA) for the company’s work to import cisplatin, an oncology product, during a severe market shortage. The award was presented during the 2024 Distribution Management Conference and Expo in Palm Desert, California. 
Each year, the DMA recognizes HDA member companies’ efforts to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and safety of the healthcare supply chain through innovative and successful trading partner initiatives. Winning companies are selected by the distributor and manufacturer member executives of the HDA Industry Relations Council.
When a nationwide market shortage of cisplatin occurred in 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reached out to Qilu Pharmaceutical to explore the possibility of importing the drug on a temporary basis. Qilu consulted Apotex for the regulatory assistance needed to quickly import the drug to the U.S. from China. Apotex subsequently launched the product in partnership with Qilu. In total, 50-milligram vials were permitted by the FDA to be imported and distributed in the U.S. With cisplatin being a key chemotherapy drug for 10–20 percent of patients undergoing cancer treatment in the U.S., this temporary importation had an immediate and lifesaving impact on patients across the country.
“HDA is honored to recognize Apotex for their efforts to broadly distribute cisplatin quickly and efficiently,” said Perry Fri, Executive Vice President of Industry Relations and Member Services, HDA; and COO of the HDA Research Foundation. “As the distribution industry continues its work to mitigate and manage drug shortages in the U.S., Apotex is an excellent example of an HDA member company seeking innovative ways to serve the market and work with trading partners to ensure patients have access to critically important medications.”
Additionally, HDA named Lilly USA LLC as a DMA finalist for its 2023 Insulin Lispro Vial Limited Duration
Rebate program. In an effort to avoid supply chain and patient access disruptions that could result from the channel’s response to the WAC price decrease for insulin lispro, Lilly USA LLC worked with each of its Authorized Distributors of Record to offer a limited duration rebate for pharmacies that purchased insulin lispro vials.
The program was a novel arrangement between a brand manufacturer and its distribution partners that would allow for simple and broad participation for all eligible pharmacies. By executing this program, eligible pharmacies could have confidence in keeping a steady supply of product on their shelves for diabetic patients.
For more information on the Distribution Management Award, visit HDA.org.
About HDA
The Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) represents primary pharmaceutical distributors — the vital link between the nation’s pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and others nationwide. Since 1876, HDA has helped members navigate regulations and innovations to get the right medicines to the right patients at the right time, safely and efficiently. The HDA Research Foundation, HDA’s nonprofit charitable foundation, serves the healthcare industry by providing research and education focused on priority healthcare supply chain issues.