Health Care Advocate Dan Leonard Will Lead Generic and Biosimilar Industry Trade Group
WASHINGTON, DC (August 25, 2020) – The Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM) Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Dan Leonard to be the association’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Leonard will join AAM in September. He most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC), and succeeds Chester “Chip” Davis, Jr. who left AAM in February 2020.
Alok Sonig, CEO, US Generics and Head, Global R&D and Biosimilars of Lupin Ltd., and Chairman of the AAM Board of Directors, stated, “Dan’s decades of leadership experience across the pharmaceutical ecosystem and his unparalleled background in policy and communications makes him the perfect person to lead our industry’s efforts to advocate for policies to increase patient access to generic and biosimilar medicines through greater competition.”
“During our search for a CEO, AAM has been ably led by its Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Jeff Francer, and we thank him for taking on the additional responsibilities,” said Carol Lynch, President, Sandoz US and Head, Sandoz North America, and Vice Chair of the AAM Board of Directors. "We are confident that Dan will lead the association’s talented team to support our work with the Administration and Congress to further secure the pharmaceutical supply chain and create market conditions that will ensure the long-term viability of the generic and biosimilars industry.”
At NPC, Mr. Leonard developed quantitative data to provide policymakers with a strong scientific foundation for informed considerations about health care access and value. Prior to his tenure at NPC, Mr. Leonard was executive vice president of advocacy and professional services for America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the trade association representing companies providing health insurance coverage in the United States.
In addition to his extensive trade association experience, Mr. Leonard is a veteran communications and media professional with more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, legislative management, politics and broadcast journalism.
He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio, where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees. He also received his master’s degree in government from Johns Hopkins University.
Mr. Leonard lives in Annapolis, Maryland, with his wife, Susan. They have two children and enjoy sailing on the Chesapeake Bay.
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About AAM
AAM is driven by the belief that access to safe, quality, effective medicine has a tremendous impact on a person’s life and the world around them. Generic and biosimilar medicines improve people’s lives, improving society and the economy in turn. AAM represents the manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars, manufacturers and distributors of bulk pharmaceutical chemicals, and suppliers of other goods and services to the generic industry. Generic pharmaceuticals are 90 percent of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. but only 22 percent of total drug spending.
About the Biosimilars Council
The Biosimilars Council, a division of the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM), works to ensure a positive environment for patient access to biosimilar medicines. The Biosimilars Council is a leading source for information about the safety and efficacy of more affordable alternatives to costly brand biologic medicines. Areas of focus include public and health expert education, strategic partnerships, government affairs, legal affairs and regulatory policy. More information is available at www.biosimilarscouncil.org.