The head of pharmaceutical lobby group Medicines Australia has stepped down after a brief but turbulent tenure that saw his organisation fall out with the federal government. 
Chief executive Tim James announced his resignation on Saturday after only 14 months in the job, Fairfax Media can reveal.
Mr James joined the group after a career in the medicines industry and Liberal politics.
He was previously chief of staff to NSW cabinet minister Anthony Roberts and also worked as a staffer to former prime minister John Howard and former treasurer Joe Hockey.
But despite his conservative political background he has publicly clashed with Health Minister Sussan Ley, most notably over this year's cuts to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
The government's bid to secure a new five-year "strategic agreement" with Medicines Australia - which would have provided greater certainty for the local industry - broke down in acrimony in   June.
Both sides accused the other of walking away from a deal.  
In the group's annual report, Mr James said the outcome of the negotiations had been "disappointing and difficult".
Mr James' resignation comes only two months after Martin Cross retired as the group's chairman.