Complementary Medicines Australia is pleased to announce that a new and improved Data Protection scheme for complementary medicines has entered Parliament as part of the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2020 Measures No. 2) Bill 2020.

CMA hopes that a new, improved, and fully functional data protection scheme will be a landmark historical turning point in the research and therapeutic claims landscape for complementary medicines, not only allowing better advancement of the Australian sector, but as one that could serve for increased global advancement of models into the future that help stimulate and create recognition into research into non-patentable natural substances. This includes use in important health conditions as well as enhancement of wellbeing.

The updated data protection scheme will enable researchers and sponsors to publish information and important details about their research in full, five years earlier than previously permitted, to gain earlier public recognition of the efficacy of vitamins, minerals, herbal and other complementary medicines.

The new scheme also critically increases the flexibility and breadth of the scheme by expanding the eligibility of indications to ensure that a medicine with the same “intermediate” indication as another medicine but with different active ingredients, may also now access the scheme, to provide far greater certainty and be more effective in encouraging innovation into new therapeutic uses.

A more effective data protection scheme combined with early, visible publication of the evidence-base for complementary medicines is particularly exciting as this recognition may occur in the context of more well known and accessible therapeutic uses including uses relating to certain health conditions currently not permitted to be included on other listed medicines

For more information and details on the updated scheme, please see today's Member Alert