ABPI and BIA welcome the MMIP’s successful campaign to get funding for exciting new manufacturing design processes project

The Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership (MMIP) which was launched last year by ABPI and BIA brought together key industry stakeholders to develop and shape the bid ultimately leading to today’s successful funding announcement. This exciting new project is the first major accomplishment for the MMIP which was established to bring the UK’s medicines manufacturing industry together to work towards a common goal of creating an attractive and innovation-driven environment to drive UK competitiveness, and build international recognition, in medicines manufacturing. The Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) also played a key role in securing this funding and has worked closely with the MMIP since its establishment in September of last year.

Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals, Process Systems Enterprise Ltd (PSE), Perceptive Engineering Ltd, Britest Ltd, Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC), University of Leeds, University of Cambridge, STFC and the University of Strathclyde will be working on this project with the full support of the MMIP.

Commenting on the funding announcement ABPI Project Director for Manufacturing James Christie said:

“I warmly welcome this announcement and I am very proud of MMIP’s role in helping to secure funding for this project. I firmly believe that this will be a powerful vehicle for enhancing the external environment for medicines manufacturing. Most importantly it will enable new and complex medicines to be developed and brought to market quicker and more cost effectively”.

Commenting on the funding announcement BIA CEO Steve Bates said:

“This is a fantastic achievement arising out of the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership. This investment is a positive step towards increasing the UK’s prominence in medicine manufacturing and also in safeguarding and creating jobs. It’s also great to see a further £6.2  million grant awarded to the CPI as part of their project, adopting innovative technologies emerging from UK SMEs to improve the supply chain for biologic medicinal products.”

 Commenting on the announcement Tommy Dolan Pfizer Vice President Pharmaceutical Sciences said:

“We welcome this valuable addition to the UK infrastructure. It will harness the expertise of world leading UK academic institutions and industry to design the most advanced and complex medicines for the future.  This project to develop new digital design and manufacturing processes for medicines will give the UK world leading capability in advanced manufacturing of medicines. ” 

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About the ABPI

The ABPI represents innovative research-based biopharmaceutical companies, large, medium and small, leading an exciting new era of biosciences in the UK.

Our industry, a major contributor to the economy of the UK, brings life-saving and life-enhancing medicines to patients. Our members supply 90 per cent of all medicines used by the NHS, and are researching and developing over two-thirds of the current medicines pipeline, ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of helping patients prevent and overcome diseases.

The ABPI is recognised by government as the industry body negotiating on behalf of the branded pharmaceutical industry, for statutory consultation requirements including the pricing scheme for medicines in the UK.

About the BioIndustry Association

Established over 25 years ago at the infancy of biotechnology, the BioIndustry Association (BIA) is the trade association for innovative enterprises involved in UK bioscience. Members include emerging and more established bioscience companies; pharmaceutical companies; academic, research and philanthropic organisations; and service providers to the bioscience sector. The BIA represents the interests of its members to a broad section of stakeholders, from government and regulators to patient groups and the media. Our goal is to secure the UK's position as a global hub and as the best location for innovative research and commercialisation, enabling our world-leading research base to deliver healthcare solutions that can truly make a difference to people's lives.

Contact

Jessica Gray

Communications Executive, BioIndustry Association

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 0207 630 2197