FPM statement on life sciences investment and the O’Shaughnessy review

The announcement, on the 26 May, of further investment into life sciences by the UK Government is welcomed by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (FPM).

Commercial clinical trials in the UK: the Lord O’Shaughnessy review – final report was also released on 26 May. Members of FPM gave evidence to this and other reports, also making recommendations used in the UK Government life sciences package.

The O’Shaughnessy review addresses many challenging aspects of clinical trials, and in response the UK Government has committed to making it easier for innovative healthcare products to get to patients by cutting the regulatory burden of approving clinical trials. UK Government has committed £121 million, made up of new and existing funding, to speed up clinical trials and improve access to real-time data via new Clinical Trial Acceleration Networks.

The investment is intended to make UK an attractive destination for industry sponsored clinical trials, with regulatory reform and improved access to data, supporting access to innovative treatments for patients.

Implementing the recommendation’s proposals, alongside these other announcements, will be welcomed by the many pharmaceutical physicians leading research programmes in pharmaceutical companies and academia and crucially those involved in regulating and managing access to new medicines.

The FPM Clinical Trial Science and Regulations Expert Group will be reviewing and commenting on more detail in the reports and package in the coming days. The group will also be considering the implications and opportunities for international collaboration.

Dr Flic Gabbay, President of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, commented:

“I am delighted to see the Government’s firm commitment to life sciences and the recognition of the sector’s important contribution to UK patients and the economy. FPM is an organisation whose members are leading medicines and devices development, access and regulation. These announcements will strengthen their ability to innovate and improve UK healthcare. We are looking forward to supporting Government in building further on the already successful UK life sciences sector.”