ABPI defends OLS Blueprint against member scepticism
pharmafile | September 17, 2009 | News story | |Â Â ABPIÂ
Over half of ABPI members believe the government's latest efforts to help the life sciences sector will not make a difference, according to a new survey.
The poll result, which relates to the government's Office of Life Sciences' Blueprint, could be seen as an embarrassment to the ABPI, whose leaders only two months ago championed the move as groundbreaking.
Dr Richard Barker, director general of the ABPI, leapt to defend the Blueprint, and said through time and implementation the plan could gather clout and win the confidence in industry.
He said: "It was the ABPI that generated a lot of enthusiasm around the OLS. But so far it is only a blueprint.
"You don't get excited about a building if you just see the architectural plans. We have to work to turn it into an implementation plan."
The Office of Life Sciences (OLS) Blueprint is an action plan to put innovation at the heart of the NHS in order to help with research in the industry and boost the UK's global ranking.
It was launched by Lord Drayson and Lord Darzi in July 2009 with input from the industry. It aims to inject new life into the UK life sciences sector, which encompasses the pharma, biotech, medical devices and the diagnostics industries.
But the latest poll, commissioned by the ABPI and conducted by ComRes, showed over 50% of members think it won't make a difference, and nearly the same number believe the UK environment would deteriorate further in the next 12 months.
At a press briefing at London Imperial College where the results were revealed, ABPI leaders faced tough questions on what has gone wrong.
Barker took a more cautious position than he had in July, and insisted it was still early days for the government plan.
He said: "All companies will make decisions on what they see happening, not on reports. We have seen a lot of reports in recent years and its action that we need."
Related stories:
Blueprint to fast track innovative drugs and devices
July 14, 2009
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