Securing America’s Medicines and Supply (SAMS)

SAMS is a multi-industry coalition of companies with the mission to strengthen the security of the medical supply chain in the United States.

Become A Member
Introduction

SAMS seeks to drive implementation of legislation and regulation to reward and foster U.S.-made manufacturing of important pharmaceutical products, devices, and personal protection equipment. We support U.S. patients, domestic healthcare security, and U.S. jobs. Specific policy initiatives include:

  • Encourage increased manufacturing operations within U.S. borders for the U.S. medical supply chain via reforms to trade and tax law to design policies that promote domestic production.
  • Maintain and expand U.S. government loan, grant, direct investment, and purchase agreement programs for important medical infrastructure developed by companies primarily manufacturing in the United States through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority (BARDA).
  • Explore opportunities within Medicare, the Veterans Administration, and the Department of Defense to recognize and promote U.S.-made pharmaceutical products and supplies.
  • Strengthen procurement to the strategic national stockpile (SNS) for important pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices, and personal protective equipment, with emphasis on those produced domestically.
Members
The API Innovation Center
The API Innovation Center is a non-profit public benefit organization dedicated to delivering a market-competitive commercial supply of U.S.-made active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to meet healthcare supply chain needs. Its mission is to drive health security and economic growth for the nation and its citizens through the domestic production of critical medicines.
Amneal Pharmaceuticals
Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc., globally headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ, is a fully integrated essential medicines company with a diverse portfolio of approximately 250 products in its Generics, Biosimilar and Specialty segments and a significant domestic manufacturing base. Through its AvKARE segment, the Company is a leading distributor of pharmaceuticals and other products for the U.S. federal government, retail, and institutional markets.
Cencora
Cencora fosters a positive impact on the health of people and communities around the world by advancing the development and delivery of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products. As a leading global healthcare company, with a foundation in pharmaceutical distribution and solutions for manufacturers, pharmacies and providers, we create unparalleled access, efficiency and reliability for human and animal health. Our 41,000 global team members power our purpose: We are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures. Cencora is ranked #8 on the Fortune 500 with more than $200 billion in annual revenue.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
Teva Pharmaceuticals is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel that specializes in the manufacture of generic drugs, research and development of novel therapies and pharmaceutical distribution. Teva is the largest generic drug manufacturer in the world, with manufacturing facilities concentrated in the United States, Europe, and Israel. Anda, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Teva, is the fourth-largest drug distributor in the United States. 
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on providing medicines to address unmet patient needs, stemming from 150 years of using their unique strengths, experience and expertise to help improve people’s lives.
Board of Directors
Maryll W. Toufanian
SAMS Chair
Senior Vice President – Regulatory Strategy and Government Affairs, Amneal Pharmaceuticals
Maryll W. Toufanian is Senior Vice President –Regulatory Strategy and Government Affairs at Amneal where she leads the company’s efforts to develop top-level regulatory strategies and Amneal’s government relations and public policy interface with state and federal policymakers. An attorney by training, Maryll has been in the accessible medicines sector for over 24 years, which tenure includes 14 years at the Food and Drug Administration in various leadership roles in the Center for Drug Evaluation & Research and the Office of the Commissioner.
Michael Brzica
SAMS Treasurer
Vice President of Government Affairs, Teva Pharmaceuticals
Michael Brzica is currently Vice President, Government Affairs for Teva Pharmaceuticals. In this role, Brzica leads the company’s interface with state and federal policymakers in legislative and executive branches. Prior to joining Teva, Brzica held roles of increasing responsibility at the Association for Accessible Medicines, a Washington, D.C. trade association representing manufacturers of generic and biosimilar medicines. In addition to these roles, Brzica worked in government affairs capacities at Prime Therapeutics and the American Dental Association. He began his career in Washington as counsel to former U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R-NE). Brzica holds a B.S. and J.D. from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Lindsey, their son Henry, and dog Morris.
David T. Sanders
SAMS Executive Director
Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy, Coherus BioSciences
David Sanders has more than twenty years of experience working in government and industry. He worked for Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN), then-Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Bush-Cheney 2004. He served as a legislative liaison for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, working on intellectual property and trade law. He advanced policy working for Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, National Community Pharmacists Association and DaVita Inc. before joining Coherus BioSciences in the summer of 2020 where he leads a small team in policy, advocacy and public affairs.
Andrew Gonce
SAMS Director
Senior Director, Commercial Strategy, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
Andrew joined SpecGx in 2019, and currently is responsible for Commercial, Business Development and Strategy for Mallinckrodt Specialty Generics (SpecGx). Prior to joining SpecGx, he worked in strategy, operations, and quality at Mundipharma, Hospira, and McKinsey & Co. Over his 20-year career, he has worked across 20+ pharmaceutical plants on four continents. He has an MBA from the University of Virginia, and a Master and Bachelors in Engineering from Duke University and currently lives in Raleigh, NC.
Gerren McHam
SAMS Board Member
Vice President of Government & External Affairs, The API Center
Gerren McHam is Vice President of Government & External Affairs at the API Innovation Center, leading engagement with government, industry, and workforce partners to advance U.S. production of critical medicines. With over 15 years of experience in federal and state government on healthcare, workforce development, and education policy, he has served as a legislative aide to former U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Special Advisor at the U.S. Department of Education, and Director of External Relations for the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.
Stephen R. Conafay
SAMS Secretary and Washington Counsel
Steve Conafay has 35 years of leadership and management experience in government relations, public policy and communications. For 12 years, Mr. Conafay was vice president of government relations for Pfizer, where he was elected as a corporate officer in 1984. He served as senior vice president of corporate affairs for Glaxo Inc., where he was also a member of the Board of Directors. After heading the legislative practice for Jones, Day, Reavis and Pogue, he was tapped by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to assume the No. 2 position of executive vice president of strategic and legislative affairs. He also served as an executive fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, the leading free market think tank in the U.S.

Become a Member

Please contact us if you’re interested in becoming a member of SAMS.
Name(Required)
Get SAMS News