WASHINGTON — Kathleen Jaeger, president and chief executive officer of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA), plans to leave the generic drug industry trade group next month.

GPhA chairman Paul Bisaro stated Tuesday that Jaeger’s resignation will be effective June 30. However, GPhA said she will serve as an adviser to the group for the rest of this year.

"It is with regret that I announce that the board of directors of GPhA has reluctantly accepted the resignation of Kathleen Jaeger as president and CEO of our association. We are pleased that Ms. Jaeger will remain an adviser to GPhA through the end of 2010, and that she has agreed to work with the association to ensure a smooth transition without interruption in our advocacy activities," Bisaro, who also is president and CEO of Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc., said in a statement.

GPhA didn’t indicate whether a search for a new president and CEO was under way.

Jaeger commented, "It has been a distinct honor to represent GPhA these past eight years and help build a strong, vibrant trade association. I am extremely proud of the work that the GPhA team has accomplished. Our industry has achieved many victories that have greatly contributed to improving the lives of countless Americans. And today, despite David and Goliath comparisons, the GPhA team has tremendously enhanced the visibility and influence of the trade association and we’ve been successful at getting a seat at the table in critical industry debates."

Jaeger joined GPhA in 2002, following the merger of three separate trade associations, according to Bisaro.

"Under her leadership, our association was transformed into a powerful voice for our industry and for American consumers," he stated. "During her tenure, she worked with the federal government to help educate the public on the substantial benefits, safety and quality of our products. We are particularly grateful for her unprecedented success in broadening and strengthening our relationships with consumers, businesses, labor, state and federal agencies, pharmacy benefit managers and health plan purchasers. Our coalition work with these stakeholders has been, and will continue to be, critical to the ongoing success of our industry and our association."

He added that Jaeger’s leadership helped grow GPhA’s revenue and resources dramatically.

GPhA said other accomplishments by Jaeger include extensive consumer and media initiatives to better communicate the value and contribution of generic medicines to saving consumers more than $734 billion in the last decade, as well as initiatives with Food and Drug Administration and others that have enhanced the understanding, availability, affordability, quality and safety of generic drugs.

On the legislative front, GPhA said, her accomplishments include the Medicare Modernization Act, biodefense and health care reform, which contained components to ensure that the interests of consumers and their right to the timely approval of generic medicines remained paramount, along with advocacy initiatives to prevent free trade agreements and other international forums from institutionalizing barriers to the growth of the U.S. generic pharmaceutical industry.

"Kathleen has been an outstanding leader of GPhA," Bisaro remarked. "We will miss her vision, passion and dedication. I am pleased that she has agreed to serve as an adviser to us during the transition period. GPhA’s Board of Directors is committed to building on Kathleen’s legacy, and to ensuring that Congress, state legislators, FDA, regulators, and international policy-makers continue to recognize that as our industry association, GPhA speaks with a strong, unwavering and single voice on behalf of all our members, and more important, all consumers."