Qualifications
BEcon (Hons), Sydney

Professional experience
Mr. Kim Sweeny is Principal Projects Officer at the Centre, specialising in the strategic analysis, assessment and development of new technology and innovation. Mr Sweeny is heavily involved in the Centre’s Pharmaceutical Industry Project, being responsible in particular for the analysis of Australian and international pharmaceutical markets. He has produced reports on, among other topics, the operations of the PBS and pricing and usage outcomes, comparisons of Australian and international pharmaceutical usage and pricing, and the Australian pharmaceutical supply chain. He has presented his findings at various national and international fora. In addition he has undertaken consultancy studies of various aspects of the PBS for pharmaceutical industry clients. He was a lead author on the report on Small Scale Technologies for the Victorian Government and the report on Economic Benefits of the Research Program of the Proposed CRC for Interconnected Knowledge Communities (CRCIKC).

From 1993-2000 Mr. Sweeny was General Manager, Service Industries of the Strategic Industry Research Foundation Ltd (SIRF), a company established by the Victoria Government to develop and manage technology related products. He won, managed and delivered numerous consultancy projects including 3 benchmarking studies, covering biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical equipment and clinical trials, for Invest Australia (an arm of the Australian Government) in 1995, 1997, and 2000.

In 1995 and 2000 he undertook studies for Invest Australia on criteria used by multinational companies in deciding where to locate new R&D investments. Around 30 multinational companies were interviewed and asked to rank the importance of 22 selection criteria, such as costs, availability of skilled personnel, scientific research base, proximity to markets/customers, quality of life, cost of living, taxation regimes, economic and political stability etc.

In 1996 he carried out a study of the benefits of pharmaceutical company R&D for the Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. This study demonstrated substantial returns from pharmaceutical R&D and included interviews with 25 pharmaceutical companies.

While at SIRF he was instrumental in establishing the Cooperative Research Centre for Microtechnology – a new technology alliance of research organisations, companies and State and Commonwealth Governments undertaking research in micro and nanotechnologies. Industries covered by the CRC include defence, communications, automotive, biotechnology and sport. In 2001 he carried out an assessment of the business case for a new microelectronics design business for the CRC.

Publications

Research reports

Sheehan, P. and Sweeny, K. 2007, The Value of Medicines in Australia, Report to Medicines Australia, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sheehan, P., Rasmussen, B. and Sweeny, K. 2007, ‘Developing an Integrated Approach to Emerging Health Challenges’, Framework Paper prepared for the APEC Life Science Innovation Forum V, Adelaide, 19-20 April.

Sweeny, K. 2006, Modelling the Impact of Proposed PBS Policy Changes, report to Medicines Australia, April, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2006, A Comparison of the PBS Prices of Popular Patent-Protected and Off-Patent Medicines with Prices in the United Kingdom, report to Pfizer Australia, March, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2006, The Market for Antidepressants in Australia, report to Pfizer Australia, February, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2006, New Drugs, Generics and Pricing Options: An Analytical Framework for the Assessment of Alternative Policies Phase One: New Drugs for the PBS, report to Pfizer Australia, February, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sheehan, P., Rasmussen, B. and Sweeny, K. 2006, ‘Sustainable Health Care Systems to Support Innovation’, Framework Paper prepared for the Fourth Annual APEC Life Science Innovation Forum (LISF), Hoi An, Vietnam, 6-7 September.

Sweeny, K. 2005, Policies for Pricing Innovative and Off-Patent Medicines: A Comparison of Current Government Policy with a Two Market Policy, report to Medicines Australia, December, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2005, Options for Restructuring the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Phase Two: Drug Prices in Australia: A Comparative Review and Analysis of Changes, report to Medicines Australia, August, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2005, Options for Restructuring the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Phase One: The Australian Pharmaceutical Market in Context, report to Medicines Australia, August, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2005, New Listing and Pricing Arrangements for Generic Medicines: An Assessment, report to Pfizer Australia, July, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2005, Proposed New Listing and Pricing Arrangements for Generic Medicines: An Assessment, with P. Sheehan, report to Medicines Australia, March, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2005, Generic Drugs, Savings and Medicine Policy Phase Two: New Drugs, Future PBS Costs and Alternative Approached to Pricing Policy for New Drugs, report to Medicines Australia, January, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2005, Generic Drugs, Savings and Medicine Policy Phase One: Historical Analysis of Generic Markets and Assessment of the Future Impact of Generics - Impact of Price Reductions Following Patent Expiry, report to Medicines Australia, January, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2005, Generic Drugs, Savings and Medicine Policy Phase One: Historical Analysis of Generic Markets and Assessment of the Future Impact of Generics, report to Medicines Australia, January, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2004, Savings in the Cost of the PBS from Reducing the Price of Off-Patent Drugs, report to Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. and Houghton, J. 2004, The Economic Benefits of the Research Program of the Proposed CRCIKC, report to CRC for Enterprise Distributed Systems Technology, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2004, The Health Technologies Institute: An Initial Economic and Financial Assessment, report to Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2003, The Value of Medicines and Australian Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy, A Case Study of AIIRAs, report to Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sheehan, P., Sweeny, K., Rasmussen, B., Tegart, G. and Nicolau, D. 2003, Small Scale Technologies: Directions for Victoria, report to the Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, Melbourne, September.

Book chapter

Sweeny, K. 2006, ‘Australian pharmaceutical pricing in a global context: Trends and issues’, in B. Grewal and M. Kumnick (eds), Engaging the New World: Responses to the Knowledge Economy, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne.

Working papers

Sweeny, K. 2007, ‘Trends and Outcomes in the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 36, December, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2007, ‘Key Aspects of the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 35, November, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2007, ‘The Pharmaceutical Industry in Australia’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 34, September, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2005, ‘Drug Prices in Australia: An International Comparison’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 29, September, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2005, ‘Accounting for Growth in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 28, September, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2004, ‘Review of Findings: Australian Pharmaceutical Pricing in a Global Context’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 19, April, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2004, ‘Australian Pharmaceutical Pricing in a Global Context: Trends and Issues’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 16, February, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2003, ‘Price and Quantity Trends in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 14, August, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sheehan, P. and Sweeny, K. 2002, ‘Competition and Drug Pricing in the PBS: An Economic Interpretation’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 12, August, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2002, Demand and Price Dynamics in the International Market’, Pharmaceutical Industry Working Paper No. 11, August, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Rasmussen, B. and Sweeny, K. 2002, ‘Development Paths for Australian Biomedical Firms’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 8, September, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2002, ‘Demand and Price Dynamics within the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 6, June, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2002, ‘Trends in the Use and Cost of Pharmaceuticals Under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 5, June, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.

Sweeny, K. 2002, ‘Technology Trends in Drug Discovery and Development: Implications for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry in Australia’, Pharmaceutical Industry Project Working Paper No. 3, March, CSES, Victoria University, Melbourne.