Welcome to the September issue of The Pharmafile Brief, bringing you the latest developments shaping healthcare and pharma this month.
In our third issue, we delve into epilepsy, including rare and severe forms, coinciding with National Epilepsy Awareness Week at the start of September. We also examine changes in access to medicines under the government’s 10-Year Health Plan and highlight the latest advances in AI integration across the industry.
A highlight of this issue is an interview with Amélie Lothe, global medical community head of rare epilepsies at UCB. She discusses developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, providing insight into these lesser-known forms, the treatments currently available, and how she expects the field to evolve.
Vision4Health’s founder Sabina Syeddiscusses the government’s recent Life Sciences Sector Plan and what it could mean for patients. She argues that it signals the UK’s desire to lead, not just in research, but in uptake of health innovation that delivers real-world impact to patients. However, success is contingent on deep understanding, partnership and long-term engagement.
We present the fourth instalment in the Gateway to Local Adoption series, also produced with Visions4Health. Frances Smith, Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager and Cambridge-based pharmacist, shares her views on the government’s 10-Year Health Plan and patient access to medicines. She highlights the creation of a single national formulary and the shift of services from hospital to community as key ways of reshaping access.
Frances Smith
Also in relation to the 10-Year Health Plan, M3, a provider of digital solutions in medical communications, explores how NHS structural changes are as much about marketing as policy. By freeing up pharmacists’ time to treat more patients and expanding their role in frontline care, M3 describes a seismic shift in where healthcare conversations begin.
Our Five Facts for September also focus on epilepsy – from common seizure triggers and high co-morbidity rates to its historical understanding. In addition, the Epilepsy Research Institute has opened its 2025-26 Grant Round, offering funding opportunities to support researchers at all career stages.
With AI integration into healthcare software rapidly underway, this month saw a number of key developments. Cognizant launched TriZetto AI Gateway, embedding generative AI across its healthcare software programmes. Meanwhile, Sanome’s MEMORI – an AI device predicting hospital-acquired infections – became the first UK-built AI software to receive certification for infection prediction.
The industry also saw a number of leadership changes. Swedish healthtech company Enzymatica appointed Sana Alajmovic as CEO; radiopharma company Artbio expanded its board and established a technical advisory board; and Richmond Pharmacology promoted Priscilla Ochuba to associate medical director in recognition of her contributions to early-stage research.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue of The Pharmafile Brief. Look out for the next issue in early October, with fresh in-depth analysis across pharma, biotech and healthcare.
The UK government’s 10-Year Health Plan is moving pharmacists to the frontline of primary care For decades, community pharmacies were viewed as the final link in the healthcare chain, the place where prescriptions were filled, questions were answered and patients left with neatly labelled medication in hand. The pharmacist’s role, although respected, was largely reactive:...
The Epilepsy Research Institute has opened its 2025-26 Grant Round, offering a wide range of funding opportunities designed to support researchers at every stage of their careers. The funding reflects the Institute’s commitment to connecting the epilepsy research community. Applications are invited across all areas of epilepsy research, with new award types introduced this year...
1 Epilepsy occurs when the normal electrical activity in the brain changes. For many, the cause is unclear, but genes and brain damage are understood to be related to the condition.1 2 The risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is up to three times higher than in the general population. A significant portion...
In the fourth of the Gateway to Local Adoption series, Visions4Health caught up with Frances Smith, Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager, Outpatients, to discuss her views on elements of the 10-Year Health Plan for England relating to patient access to medicines.
The board of directors of Enzymatica has appointed Sana Alajmovic as chief executive officer, succeeding Claus Egstrand. Egstrand will step down from his role and will then be nominated to join the company’s board of directors. Alajmovic is currently the co-founder and CEO of Sigrid Therapeutics, a healthtech company specialising in chronic lifestyle diseases. She...
ARTBIO, a radiopharma company developing radioligand therapies (RLTs), has appointed four new members to its board of directors and formed a technical advisory board. Firstly, Maha Katabi (pictured top left), a general partner at Sofinnova Investments, with more than 20 years’ experience in biotech leadership and investment, has been appointed. Robert Mittendorff (pictured top right),...
Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) has announced topline results from its phase 3 ATTAIN-1 trial, showing that orforglipron – a once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist – achieved significant weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight with a related medical condition. Patients receiving the highest dose of orforglipron (36mg) lost an average of 12.4% of...
From 4 August, sexual health clinics in England have been able to offer a free vaccine – the 4CMenB vaccine – to patients at highest risk of infection with gonorrhoea. The programme intends to protect thousands from infection risk, and forms part of the UK government’s 10 Year Health Plan, specifically the shift from sickness...
Sanome’s MEMORI, an artificial intelligence (AI) medical device that can predict hospital-acquired infections up to 72 hours before they present, has received Class IIb CE certification and approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This marks the first UK-built AI software to receive this level of certification for infection prediction. The tool...
US tech solutions company, Cognizant, has launched TriZetto AI Gateway, a new tool designed to embed generative AI functions across its existing TriZetto healthcare software programmes. The product aims to help health organisations manage AI adoption securely and at scale, particularly in sensitive areas such as claims processing and care management. The product provides a...
Richmond Pharmacology has announced the promotion of Priscilla Ochuba to associate medical director, effective 1 August 2025. The move recognises her outstanding contributions to early-phase research and leadership within the organisation’s medical directorate. Ochuba joined Richmond in 2022 with a background in general medicine and has since become an integral figure in the delivery of...
