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12 November 2019Big PharmaSaman Javed

UK biotech industry publishes manifesto ahead of UK election

The UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) has published a manifesto detailing its recommendations on how political parties can support innovation in the UK life sciences sector, ahead of the UK general election.

The manifesto was published yesterday, November 11, approximately a month before the election date of Thursday, December 12.

The BIA called on the next government to commit to three main aims: maintaining and increasing public and private investment in research and development, maintain world-class regulation in a post-Brexit UK, and deliver rapid patient access to medicines.

“Research and development is the beating heart of the biotech sector,” the BIA said, adding that without it, “none of the sector’s contributions to patients and the UK economy would be possible”.

“The cross-party target to achieve research and development representing 2.4% of GDP by 2027 (and 3% in the long-term) should be continued,” the BIA said.

Additionally, it said a long-term investment plan should be published in 2020 to give confidence to the sector to make research and development investment commitments in the UK.

The association also urged the next government to seek the “closest possible alignment” between the UK and EU on medicines and medical devices regulations and ensure rapid patient access to medicines.

The BIA said that currently, the way medicines are assessed for use in the NHS “does not always take into account how much value they bring to patients’ lives”.

“The assessment of medicines should not prioritise cost-effectiveness over a more holistic understanding of real-world value and the wider impact on patients’ ability to full, active and fulfilling lives,” it said.

“Flexibility should be built into the appraisal system so that it does not act as an undue barrier to patient access to medicines, particularly recognising the data limitations for rare diseases,” it added.

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