Brinsmead to be life sciences adviser to government
pharmafile | November 23, 2010 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Brinsmead, NHS, government, life sciences
Chris Brinsmead, chairman of AstraZeneca UK, has been made the government’s life sciences business adviser.
He was appointed by universities and science minister David Willetts and health minister Lord Howe, a joint post between the Departments of Health and Business, Innovation and Skills.
Brinsmead has cross-party support: a year ago he was appointed by then prime minister Gordon Brown as a private sector business ambassador with a remit to promote UK life science excellence abroad.
The new move is part of what Willetts called a “co-ordinated approach to policy-making”. “There is real potential for the industry to contribute to our future economic growth as well as meeting healthcare challenges,” he added.
Lord Howe said Brinsmead would help “maximise the relationship between the NHS and the life sciences sector”. Part of Brinsmead’s remit will be to aid communication of health and business policy developments to the NHS, academia and the industry as a whole.
He will also be expected to champion the UK as an investment location and as a trading partner.
And here, the UK life sciences sector has a good story to tell: five of the world’s top 20 medicines were discovered in the UK and, while representing just 3% of the global pharma market, it attracts 10% of all R&D.
Brinsmead is best known as the president of UK pharma sector body ABPI until earlier this year.
“I know from experience that it is vital for government and industry to work together to ensure that the UK is a great place for life sciences,” he said.
Brinsmead is already familiar with the workings of Whitehall and Westminster: he is chair of the UKTI Life Sciences Marketing Board, and was co-chair of the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group working group on R&D.
He will not be paid – other than expenses – in his new role. Initially the appointment is for 12 months, with the possibility of extending it to two years.
The Association of British Healthcare Industries, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, BioIndustry Association and British In Vitro Diagnostic Association have applauded the move.
“The UK is determined to remain a world leader in the field of life sciences,” they said in a joint statement.
“By helping the government, NHS, academia and industry to work together, Chris can play a key role in helping the UK maintain its comparative advantage.”
Adam Hill
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