Excellent science, attracting global talent and investment, creating jobs, growth and delivering the therapies of the future – the state of the UK bioscience ecosystem in 2018

 

Excellent science, attracting global talent and investment, creating jobs, growth and delivering the therapies of the future – the state of the UK bioscience ecosystem in 2018

 

Commenting on the state of the UK life sciences ecosystem in a keynote address to the Bioindustry Association (BIA) UK Bioscience Forum in London BIA CEO Steve Bates OBE, will say: “The UK life sciences ecosystem is in a fantastic place. I see innovation, opportunity and collaboration everywhere. We are in an era of profound scientific opportunity.”

 

The opening address will cover key issues that are currently having an impact on the UK bioscience ecosystem including government funding, Brexit, R&D development, the NHS and the future of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

 

Latest breakthroughs and the Nobel Prize

Commenting on the latest breakthroughs he will highlight how this years’ Nobel prizes have ‘finally caught up with our sector’, linking Greg Winter’s work on humanising antibodies, and Allison and Honjo’s discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation, saying: “We as a sector can be proud of building on those insights and turning them into practical therapies.”(1)

 

On CAR-T, Bates will pay tribute to Novartis’ Kymriah and Gilead’s Yescarta for, “getting through all the hoops needed speedily to be used by NHS patients this year, with Kymriah made possible by the scaling and manufacturing know-how and expertise of UK biotech Oxford Biomedica.”

 

UK biotechs are reengineering the R&D process

Taking issue with those that say the R+D model is broken Bates will argue that, “UK biotech companies are fundamentally reengineering how drug discovery and development takes place to make it more efficient.” He will cite Sosei Heptares, who are building and commercialising the ability to maintain the complex 3D structure and activity of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). They can now, “build an exciting pipeline of new medicines with potential to transform the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, cancer, migraine, metabolic disease, and other indications.” 

 

UK Government needs to double down on biotech investment

He will call on the UK Government, “to double down investment on what we have competitive advantage in,” likening the UK biotech sector to UK Gold winning Olympic sports like cycling and rowing saying, “to be globally competitive we need to do the same in science and double down on what we are excelling at, life sciences.” 

 

Brexit uncertainty creating issues for business

On Brexit, Bates will note that, “for life sciences, UK Government have listened, with many of our asks included in the Chequers Deal and the White Paper,” but he will say that the sector inhabits, “one of the least certain business environments for the UK for at least a generation.”

Commenting on trade issues he will say: “The picture is increasingly uncertain. Despite continued reassurance that key free trade agreements would be grandfathered across in the event of a ‘Hard Brexit’ things no longer look so simple.”

 

The impact of Brexit on the NHS and patients

On the UK Government’s ask for a six week increase in medicines stockpiling he will say: “With patients at the end of our supply-chains, BIA members have been working for two years to ensure the continued supply of medicines to patients both in the UK and EU. But some medicines simply can’t be stockpiled. BIA members are engaging with the Government’s ask and will continue to do all they can. But what is now clear is that despite magnificent work across our sector the UK Government know that not all companies will be in a position where they can ensure six weeks additional buffer stock in all product lines by the end of March.”

 

“Patients have to be the priority. It is time for the Government and NHS to move to the next stage on no deal contingency planning immediately. Industry, the NHS, patient groups, prescribing data experts and patient organisations should be brought together by the Department of Health and Social Care this month so the true state of the supply issues can be commonly understood enabling those companies who may be able to help to be given time to do so.”

 

“The NHS also needs time to plan – especially if patients switching to different presentations of therapies need to see a healthcare provider before doing so, or need closer monitoring for a period.” 

 

Decimating the EMA reduces European capacity and attractiveness

Closing on his concerns for the European Medicines Agency he will say: “The capability and the international position of this hugely respected regulator is being disembowelled by how their political masters are interpreting Brexit.”

 

“It needn’t be like this. The European Commission could enable technical experts to continue to provide advice in a scientifically rigorous but procedurally pragmatic way. Continued close co-operation could work in any transition period – especially given the public position of the UK Government in this area and the desire of the sector.”

 

“Decimating the EMA simply reduces European capacity and attractiveness in world where the USA and increasingly China are the markets where companies want to launch innovative products.”

 

Ends

Notes to editors

1. In 2008, LifeArc humanised the antibody that became Merck’s Keytruda, the first of the checkpoint inhibitors to receive US regulatory approval, and now many more therapies are using a similar approach to tackle cancer.  AstraZeneca’s MedImmune research division based in Cambridge UK has had a good run of approvals using these insights.

 

2. If you would like to attend the UK Bioscience Forum – please email Ed on the details below

 

 

Contact

Ed Sexton 
Senior Communications Manager
02076302196
[email protected]

 

About the 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