The plan wants to strengthen Britain’s leadership in science, grow domestic business, attract global capital and deliver better outcomes for patients.
The government has launched a new Life Sciences Sector Plan as part of the government’s industrial strategy, setting out a ten-year mission to harness British science and innovation to deliver economic growth and a stronger, prevention-focused NHS.
The life sciences sector in the UK is worth around £100 billion to the economy, and employs around 300,000 people.
The plan, developed in coordination with the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, sets out a roadmap built around three pillars: strengthening the UK’s leadership in science and discovery; growing homegrown companies and attracting global capital; and delivering better outcomes for patients.
The plan builds on the chancellor’s commitment to reduce regulatory costs by a quarter, with increased investment in the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It aims to streamline medtech market entry through closer coordination between the MHRA and NICE.
“The life sciences sector is one of the crown jewels of the UK economy. It sits at the heart of both our Plan for Change, and our modern industrial strategy, as a unique catalyst for both economic prosperity, and better health outcomes for people across the UK,” said science and technology secretary Peter Kyle.
New appointment
Sign of the government’s commitment to the plan came with the appointment in late July of Steve Bates as executive chair for the office for life sciences. The former chief executive of the BioIndustry Association will report directly into the Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, as well as to health secretary Wes Streeting and technology secretary Peter Kyle.
In his role, Bates will act as an ambassador both domestically and internationally for the UK life sciences sector. He will work across government and the wider public sector to ensure engagement with industry around policy and investment.
The Life Science Sector Plan has been welcomed by many in the industry.
MHRA chief executive Lawrence Tallon said that he fully supported its ambition to make the UK a global leader in life sciences.
“It’s great to see the MHRA is recognised as a pivotal partner in delivering the plan’s vision – by supporting innovation, protecting public health, and making the UK a global destination for innovators to research, develop and launch cutting-edge medical products,” he said.
Similarly, Nick Lansman founder and chief executive of innovation coalition the Health Tech Alliance, called the plan a “decisive step forward” for the country’s health tech industry.
“The focus on streamlining regulation, improving data access and investing in regional health innovation clusters will help position the UK as a global leader in life sciences,” he said.
Need for real commitment
A less self-congratulatory note was sounded by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) which is warning that the core ambition of the government’s new life sciences strategy will not be realised unless it makes a real commitment to invest more in new medicines.
“This plan recognises both the extraordinary contributions of the life sciences sector to the UK, and the fact that in recent years, it has been struggling to remain competitive and attractive to investment. The solutions proposed are necessary and important, but they are not enough to turn around the UK’s decline,” said ABPI chief executive Richard Torbett.
“The UK must address the core issue holding back the life sciences sector, the long-term disinvestment in innovative medicines that is increasingly preventing NHS patients from accessing medications that are available in other countries,” he continued.
He took aim specifically at the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access, and Growth, also known as VPAG. Payment rates under the scheme now sit at between a quarter to a third of a company’s revenue from sales of branded medicines to the NHS. This is, he says, undermining efforts to make life sciences a key pillar of its industrial strategy.
“Without change, the UK will continue the slow slide down international league tables for research, investment, and the availability of new medicines,” he concluded.
