Pharma calls for action to boost medicines research

pharmafile | September 16, 2009 | News story | Sales and Marketing ABPI 

A better environment for the UK life sciences sector is vital for the country's economic recovery, according to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

With the support of the CBI, Imperial College and patients' organisation National Voices, the trade association has unveiled a new manifesto for life sciences, Prescription for Innovation.

It explains that rapid improvements in the R&D environment are needed to remain competitive in attracting and retaining investment in the UK and the top-level jobs that go with it.

ABPI director general Dr Richard Barker said: "The manifesto calls for action that will mean better health for patients, greater cost-effectiveness for the NHS and further boost the industry's contribution to the UK economy. The industry is ready to play a full part in making this vision a reality."

He was speaking at the London launch of the manifesto, where leaders from the academic community and patient groups joined representatives of industry in urging government to take action to boost innovative research in the UK.

It was launched at the same time as a new survey of ABPI members showed 77% don't think the UK stands out globally as a good place for business investment and operation.

Incentives for clinical trials and changes to NICE

Among the manifesto's key calls for action to improve the situation are:

* Delivering better patient health by creating incentives for clinical trials and better patient access to medicines through improved NICE processes.

* Driving the industry's contribution to the UK economy by reviewing the tax system and introducing new tax regimes to support the generation, retention and exploitation of intellectual property in the UK.

* Giving real power to the body in charge of ensuring the uptake of innovative medicines so that patients actually receive them.

* Changing the official definition of the value of medicines to make it align with the view of the public, patients and healthcare professionals.

Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI, said the pharmaceutical industry is one of the UK's greatest success stories, driving a quarter of all R&D investment and supporting over 250,000 jobs.

"However, the industry is deeply concerned about the UK's regulatory climate and, if we are to maintain or improve our position in the globalised life sciences arena, then more must be done to encourage investment and innovation, he added.

"The sector is crucial to the UK's recovery and acts as an indicator of our attractiveness in a globalised marketplace. It must be carefully supported, or research into new medicines will head elsewhere."

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