New biotechs and small pharma companies find it hard to take their products from discovery to market because of a lack of capital and early-stage expertise. Dr Malcolm Barratt-Johnson, PharmaMedic Consultancy’s Managing Director, says the traditional routes do not work and offers a plan to help innovators move their products forward.
A High Court judgment on a judicial review brought by the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) has dismissed the organisation’s claim that it was unfairly excluded from talks on the next Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS).
Figures from the ninth annual life sciences competitiveness indicators (LSCIs) report show that in 2022 the UK saw a substantial drop in foreign investment in its life sciences, compared to 2021. It fell to £1 billion from £1.9 billion, a drop of 47%. This saw the UK move down to ninth out of 18 comparator countries in 2021, from second place in 2021.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published its corporate plan for the next three years, featuring a focus on patient access to innovation.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) are investing £14 million in a new research programme to investigate challenges in the diagnosis, management and treatment of rare diseases.
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has opened a public consultation on the first updates to its health technology evaluations manual, which was published in January 2022.
Four important themes for the life sciences were the focus of the Professional Industry Network Group (PING) conference, held in June 2023. These included the position of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) post the COVID-19 pandemic, the implications of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS) and the proposed Voluntary Scheme for Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG), plus whether there were adequate staffing and premises to support the sector.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report outlining 40 research topics that should be prioritised by scientists around the world to help fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The goal is that results will be forthcoming by 2030, which will feed into policies and interventions to combat AMR.
The leaders of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) have warned that the proposed reforms to the European Commission’s (EC) Pharmaceutical Legislation should be revised as they believe they risk damaging Europe’s capacity for innovation and international competitiveness.
The much anticipated O’Shaughnessy report examining commercial clinical trials in the UK was published at the end of May 2023. Its findings have prompted the UK government to initiate a series of actions, in response to its 27 recommendations, that are designed to make the UK a world leader in this important part of the life sciences industry.
