Steffen Wagner has taken over as Stada’s head of Germany, adding to his existing responsibilities in Europe, after Eelco Ockers stepped down from the role. Ockers’ departure comes as German generics giant Stada restructures its business to bring its branded and consumer health interests into closer alignment as part of a more streamlined model.

Launching the oncology drug bortezomib in 14 European countries helped Stada to record an 11% increase in both Generics and group sales in the first half of 2019. But the German group, which is about to start rolling out biosimilar teriparatide, has suffered a legal setback on pemetrexed in its home market.

Germany’s off-patent industry association, Pro Generika, is finding ample support for its position that by awarding tender contracts to exclusive suppliers, health insurance funds are contributing to drug shortages in the country.