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Regulatory News: UK Government Introduces New Life Science Strategy

13th December 2011

On the 5th December, the UK Prime Minister, announced a series of measures aimed at ensuring that the UK maintains and builds on its world-leading position for life sciences.  In a speech to key figures from the pharmaceutical industry, David Cameron detailed the Government’s plans to encourage investment and growth in this sector to the benefit of patients, the NHS, industry and the UK economy.

Already the third largest contributor to economic growth with more than 4,000 companies, employing around 160,000 people and with a total annual turnover of nearly £50bn, the Government is keen to present the UK as the best place in the world to invest in the discovery, development and commercialisation of medical innovations.

As part of this, the NHS Chief Executive Review of Innovation was published which looks at how the spread of innovations could be accelerated across the NHS.  Welcomed by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the recommendations within the report, if adopted, will mean many of the barriers within the NHS which prevents patients receiving the very best of treatments, will be removed.

The specific points which the ABPI welcomed are:
- The automatic inclusion of NICE (National Institute for Health and   Clinical Excellence) recommended treatments on formulary, meaning  that clinicians can truly prescribe the medicine that they think most appropriate for their patients.

- The establishment of a NICE Implementation Collaborative (NIC) to drive appropriate usage of NICE guidance and reduce variation, making patient care more standard irrespective of postcode.

- Development and implementation of an innovation scorecard which allows a clear understanding of whether the reforms to NICE are really working, and examines if patients are getting the best new medicines.

- The commitment by Government to create a new ‘early access scheme’ which will introduce new drugs and technologies into NHS hospitals more quickly. This will allow patients to benefit earlier from promising medicines particularly in areas where new treatments are urgently needed, such as brain and lung cancer.

The Government's new early access proposals would open up new drugs to patients with no other option up to a year earlier than they would otherwise be made available. Patients' will be informed of the risks and benefits of these new drugs through advice issued by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) so they can make a decision about their own treatment.

With the NHS working in partnership with industry it is is hoped that these measures will not only see patient health improve, but by removing the barriers to innovation, the long-term growth of the Life Sciences sector and the UK economy will be boosted.
 
Reviewed by Lisa Pascoe, Senior Regulatory Affairs Executive