BIA responds to second Life Sciences Sector Deal

Today the government has published the second Life Sciences Sector Deal. The document details both public and private sector investments into the sector, including a £1bn research and development investment from BIA member company UCB and a new partnership between government and industry using artificial intelligence to develop the next generation of treatments.

Responding to the publication, BIA CEO, Steve Bates OBE, said: “The UK life sciences sector continues to go from strength to strength. One year on from the first ever sector deal agreed between government and an industry sector, it is great to see the sustained importance that the UK government places on the UK life sciences sector as an engine for the country’s future growth.

“The dynamism of the UK’s life sciences SMEs reflects both the strength and quality of UK companies and the fact that industrial strategy is already working on the ground. It is great to see various companies and organisations from the BIA’s membership cited in today’s report, including Adaptimmune, Autolus, Celgene, the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, Cobra Biologics, Eli Lilly, Freeline Therapeutics, Fujifilm Diosynth, GE Healthcare, GW Pharmaceuticals, IQVIA, Kalvista, MSD, Orchard Therapeutics, Oxford Biomedica, Puridify, Purolite, QIAGEN, Roslin CT and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

“As the BIA has advocated for several years, ensuring long-term investment into the sector will be key to success and to underpin the BIA’s ambition that the UK cements itself as at least the third global life sciences cluster. The government’s Patient Capital Review is a key part of the solution to that challenge. It is great to see both progress of this initiative encapsulated into this report and recognition of the work BIA continues to do to bring new investors into the sector.

“Today’s document sets out a number of key themes that provide a framework for the evolution of industrial strategy for UK life sciences. As a member of both the Life Sciences Council and Life Sciences Industrial Strategy Implementation Board I will continue to ensure that industrial strategy continues to both support and benefit from the innovation coming out of UK life sciences.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

Contact: Ed Sexton, BIA Communications Manager [email protected] 0207 630 2196

• The BIA’s work in support of the  Patient Capital Review is referenced at pages 13 and 36.
• The report also cites BIA data in respect of financing of the sector. The BIA’s latest data is available at: https://www.bioindustry.org/news-listing/uk-biotech-firms-raise-more-than-15-billion-so-far-this-year-exceeding-the-total-raised-in-2017.html

About the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA)
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. For further information, please go to www.bioindustry.org and twitter.com/BIA_UK