FPM statement on the Omicron COVID-19 variant

Following news of the emergence and subsequent spread of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, governments are considering their public health policies to try to contain the spread of the ‘variant of concern’ and mitigate its effects on the population. This activity is supported by the companies, academic units and regulators around the world, collectively responsible for producing vaccines and therapeutics, who are already embarking on programmes to tweak existing and develop new treatments to tackle the new variant.

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (FPM) has, since the start of the pandemic, been actively engaged in providing information, education and guidance on COVID-19. This has been coordinated by our COVID-19 Expert Group, which leveraged FPM members’ global expertise in biomedical R&D, clinical trial design and regulations. Outputs have primarily been the provision of guidance and information at a strategic level, a highly regarded series of blog articles to inform the general public, a resource centre for members and non-members, and an active engagement with the press and media, providing expert comment on the evolving situation.

FPM will continue to undertake these activities and do all it can to support policy makers and the public with unbiased information, as they make the difficult decisions required over the coming weeks and months. We are refocusing our existing COVID-19 Expert Group, and would like to invite FPM members with expertise in clinical development, immunology and public health to join the group and support this vital activity.

Find out more here and contact our media centre (media@fpm.org.uk) for more information on FPM’s COVID-19 policies and activities, or to join the COVID-19 Expert Group (please submit your CV).