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The newly-formed All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Life Sciences has written to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Jane Reeves, urging her to protect and promote the life sciences sector in the government's first Budget. The group, which includes MPs and peers, convened for its first meeting in Parliament on Tuesday (15 October) to discuss the steps the Labour government should take to ensure that the UK remains a global leader in life sciences research and commercialisation. Following the meeting, the group sent a letter to the Chancellor, expressing their support for the Labour Party's life sciences strategy, A Prescription for Growth, which was published before the general election. They urged the Chancellor to maintain government funding for life sciences research and manufacturing, as well as the tax reliefs that encourage investment, in the Budget set for 30 October. Kit Malthouse MP, chair of the APPG, emphasised the potential of the life sciences sector, saying, "The Life Sciences sector holds out an incredible promise that the UK can be at the forefront of humanity's battle with disease and at the same time build a 21st century knowledge-based economy.

The UK must act swiftly to fend off competition if it wants to build the world's leading life sciences sciences hub, a new report suggests. A year on from the launch of the government's life science vision, the report commissioned by the the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said although achieving the ambition remained feasible, the UK would need an attractive business environment because its competitor countries were becoming more adept at attracting investment. To achieve the ambition of the vision, the PwC-produced report suggested raising pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK to build a 'stronger manufacturing and research infrastructure', alongside better investment in, access to and uptake of innovative medicines. It said the UK would also need to adopt a renewed approach to the priority healthcare challenges identified in the government's 'Life Science Vision', which would mean cutting the overall burden on health of dementia, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease and mental health. The report quantified the size of the prize if the vision was implemented in full and the UK could emulate the successes of leading EU countries, which included: £68 billion in additional GDP over 30 years, owing to increased R&D investment £16.3 billion additional annual GDP from increased pharmaceutical exports Supporting 85,000 additional jobs Up to 40 per cent decrease in disease burden across the whole UK - for areas like cardiovascular disease, mental health conditions and Cancer. Reduced variation in speed of access to new medicines within three months of licensing for all NHS patients.

"The UK remains genuinely world-leading for life sciences in numerous areas - yet we continue to underperform on our potential," said Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). His statement is based on recent government data indicating that the UK is not fully capitalizing on its strong historical and institutional advantages in life sciences across a range of economic, health, and research indicators. The latest 'Life sciences competitiveness indicators 2024' report from the government's Office for Life Sciences revealed that while the pharmaceutical industry leads in R&D spending with £9 billion in 2022, representing a fifth of total business investment, the country saw a notable decline in foreign direct investment (FDI), industry clinical trials, and exports. In 2023, FDI dropped by 21 per cent to £0.8 billion, following a trend that saw a 52 per cent decrease over the previous two years, including a £0.9 billion fall in FDI the year prior.

The 'Life and Health Sciences Launchpad' has been introduced to focus on the precision medicine sector. It would help businesses and researchers to level up their impact on economic growth within the region. The launchpad has been funded by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Kerry Curran, Director of GB & EU Trade in the Department for the Economy hailed the decision to support NI's "trailblazing" sector. She said: "Life and Health Science, including our highly innovative precision medicine cluster, is an area the Department is also prioritising through its 10X Economy Vision, and this Launchpad represents a further endorsement of the world-leading growth potential of precision medicine, and indeed life and health science, in Northern Ireland.

The UK government has announced the launch of a new joint public-private investment programme aimed at accelerating patient access to cutting-edge treatments, enhancing clinical trials, and bolstering the country's medicines manufacturing capabilities. Supported by up to £400 million of investment, the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme is set to inject significant resources into the UK's health and life sciences sector over the next five years. Believed to be the world's first major public-private collaboration of this scale globally, the VPAG Investment Programme is designed to boost economic growth and the global competitiveness of the UK's life sciences sector. It aims to strengthen the NHS by supporting innovative research and creating 18 new clinical trial hubs to fast-track the development of new medicines for patients. The programme will also streamline processes to ensure the rapid transition of new treatments from labs to wards, providing patients with faster access to cutting-edge treatments. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting hailed this private investment as "a significant vote of confidence in the UK" highlighting that it will fast-track the next generation of treatments to NHS patients.

The government has launched a consultation into radically changing the Statutory Scheme for branded medicines (known as the Statutory Scheme). The consultation comes as delicate negotiations for replacing the alternative Voluntary Scheme are underway, potentially undermining these talks, while also further damaging industry confidence in the UK as a viable place to research, launch and supply medicine. The government proposals seek to hold average revenue clawback rates under the Statutory Scheme at historic highs of between 21-27%, compared to the pre-pandemic averages of 9.4% for the Statutory Scheme (2019-2021), and 6.88% for the Voluntary Scheme (2014-2021). The accompanying cost-benefit analysis ignores any negative impact this may have on medicine supply and wrongly claims it will boost investment. The consultation comes on the heels of government data last week showing UK life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 47% between 2021 and 2022, down by £900m year on year. This large fall in investment coincided with a rise in the main UK clawback rate under the Voluntary Scheme from 5% to 15%, and led to the UK falling from 2nd to 9th out of 18 comparator countries for life sciences FDI in 2022. The Voluntary Scheme clawback rate now sits at a record 26.5% in 2023.

The UK Government is investing £100 million to accelerate the use of AI in life sciences and healthcare under a new mission. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the AI Life Sciences Accelerator Mission in his speech last week. The new initiative will capitalise on the UK's unique strengths in securing "health data and cutting-edge AI." It will also help to identify those at risk of "dementia" and will ensure that patients participate in the trials at the right time to develop new treatments effectively. Henceforth, it will provide us with better data on how well new therapies work. Sunak said: "AI can help us solve some of the greatest social challenges of our time. AI could help find novel dementia treatments or develop vaccines for cancer."

Boehringer Ingelheim's UK & Ireland managing director Uday Bose has been elected chair of the European Medicines Group (EMG). Established in 2001, the EMG is a voice for UK operations of continental European headquartered research-based pharmaceutical companies and seeks to promote a dialogue between the UK Government, the NHS and wider stakeholders. "I am delighted to share the news that I have been elected chair," Bose wrote in a LinkedIn post, adding: "I look forward to working with the EMG to help support the ambition set out in the Life Sciences Vision for the UK to be a world leader in life sciences." Bose is a vastly experienced pharmaceutical industry leader who has had over 20 years' experience spanning general management, health economics, sales and marketing roles with national, regional and global accountability.

The UK is lagging behind comparable countries when it comes to cancer survival, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has said, calling on all political parties to make cancer a top priority in their party manifestos. While cancer survival rates in the UK have doubled over the last 50 years, the charity warned that the hard-won progress is at risk of stalling, with NHS cancer services in "crisis" and around half a million cancer cases a year projected by 2040. The charity has published an ambitious cancer plan which, if adopted by the next UK government, could dramatically improve cancer outcomes and prevent 20,000 cancer deaths a year by 2040. Called "Longer Better Lives: A Manifesto for Cancer Research and Care", the plan has been developed with the insights of cancer patients and experts from across health, life sciences, government and academic sectors, it said.

Moderna has joined one of the UK's leading pharmaceutical industry body, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) to expand its footprint and investment in the UK. The biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines will strengthen its footprint with the new state-of-the-art vaccine research, development and manufacturing facility in the UK. It will create valuable new jobs and build on the strength of the UK's life sciences ecosystem. The company is best known for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic and are now developing a range of mRNA-based vaccines for a number of conditions. The ABPI represents companies of all sizes who invest in discovering the medicines of the future, including some of the world's largest, most innovative, and most successful pharmaceutical firms. Darius Hughes, UK General Manager, Moderna, said: "We are delighted to join the ABPI - this alliance is an important part of our long-term commitment to the UK and supports the wider significant investments in manufacturing, research and development we are making in this country.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has laid out a series of urgent actions it wants the newly elected Labour government to implement within its first 100 days in office. Among the top priorities, the ABPI has emphasised the urgent need to appoint a new Chair and Chief Executive for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Additionally, the ABPI has urged the new government to launch the Life Sciences Manufacturing Capital Grants Facility without delay. Other measures the ABPI wants Labour to prioritise include: Rapidly passing outstanding UK clinical trials legislation to enhance the UK's attractiveness for inward investment, including into research within the NHS. Increasing commercial flexibility in the NHS England Commercial Framework for New Medicines to remove barriers for companies to launch new medicines and indications so that NHS patients can access the latest innovative medicines.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has created a new NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) to support the successful delivery of health and social care research in England. The network, which will start operating from next year, will play a critical and active role in implementing government policies. It will support in implementing the Life Sciences Vision, the Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery vision, and policy for life sciences research and development. The new network would be mainly working on growing the amount of commercial clinical research as its key strategic ambition. Also, NIHR RDN will be responding to the findings of the Lord O'Shaughnessy review, which set out a clear blueprint for how the UK can return to its global leadership role.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has proposed a Voluntary Scheme for Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) that aims to deliver a sustainable approach to medicines provision and maximise the growth potential of the UK life sciences industry. It has published the industry's vision for a new agreement with the government which will deliver for patients, the NHS and the economy. VPAG also includes measures to ensure rapid patient access and adoption of new medicines, as well as opportunities to improve health outcomes and productivity for the whole country. The association's proposals consist of four key areas: restoring an internationally competitive commercial environment for life sciences; supporting UK clinical research and R&D; ensuring rapid patient access and uptake of new medicines; and improving population health and productivity through health innovation. The proposal would deliver over £1bn a year to the NHS - around £300m more than the average delivered under the old scheme before 2023, and comfortably more than the highest contributions ever made before the pandemic.

Diagnostics developer MDNA Life Sciences has partnered with Aspire Pharma to introduce the new Mitomic Prostate Test (MPT) for clinical use in the UK.

Accord Healthcare is set to expand its manufacturing and production capabilities for high-quality medicines at its Fawdon plant in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, following a new multi-million-pound investment deal with the government. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves launched the new Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF) and announced the unlocking of a joint £50 million investment deal during her visit to the Fawdon plant on 1 November. Unveiled as part of a new budget, the LSIMF will distribute up to £ 520 million in capital grants aimed at drug and medical technology production. Accord stated that it will allocate the funding towards developing new product lines, including a novel prostate cancer drug and two autoimmune injectables for treating rheumatoid arthritis and gastroenterology indications, as well as expanding its medicines for adjunctive therapy in cancer. With this investment, Accord also plans to create over 50 new skilled jobs to "safeguard the facility's long-term future." Paul Tredwell, executive vice president of Accord Healthcare EMENA, welcomed the announcement and described it as positive news for the medicines manufacturing industry across the UK.

The government on Wednesday (March 2) announced an investment of £260 million to support research, development and manufacturing of new drugs, devices and diagnostics. Of the total funding, up to £200m has been allocated for research to better access NHS data through Trusted Research Environments and digital clinical trial services, enabling availability of crucial data with the highest levels of privacy. This will allow the NHS to deliver new life-saving treatments to patients, tackle health inequalities and improve patient care, a government release stated. The remaining £60m will support commercial-scale manufacturing investments by companies at the leading-edge of innovation, from cell and gene therapies and earlier and better diagnostic technologies, to medical devices. The funding for manufacturing investments will be distributed through the new Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF), following the success of the earlier Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund.

The government has announced a £100 million public-private investment to establish 20 new commercial research delivery centres (CRDCs) across the UK, aimed at increasing access to innovative treatments and clinical trials in underserved communities. These centres will be set up in all four nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, acting as regional hubs for pioneering clinical trials. These trials will span various conditions, including cancer, obesity, and infectious diseases like flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The hubs will facilitate the swift launch of commercial studies, ensuring that patients can access experimental treatments as soon as possible. Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron hailed the investment as "a powerful vote of confidence in the UK's leading research and life sciences sector." She noted that the new hubs will shift research into smaller communities, allowing more people to access cutting-edge treatments faster.

For young people up and down the country, there will become a time in their life when they need to start thinking about their future career. For many it may begin with a professional footballer, actor or popstar. In fact, these days it's more likely to be influencer. But of course, for most, it doesn't quite end up that way. However, many also dream of entering the healthcare profession and becoming a doctor or nurse and today, more than ever, there's a real drive for healthcare recruitment from the top down. As young people start to hit the end of secondary school, it can be a good time to start exploring the journey of becoming a professional in an area and if your child has shown an interest in becoming a doctor, here's what they need to know about starting that pathway… Understanding the Educational Pathway The journey to becoming a doctor does usually start in secondary education, so it is important to make young people aware of this. You generally need to achieve good GCSE results, particularly in sciences, while that's also the case at A-level too, with the likes of biology, chemistry and mathematics all relevant subjects to study. A medical degree is required to become a doctor, with medicine often the most common way to become a General Practitioner. Securing a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery provides a good route, albeit a competitive one. In many cas

The government, NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has begun the negotiations for a new voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing on Thursday (4 May). A new voluntary scheme is expected to take effect from 1 January 2024, replacing the current scheme which came into force in 2019 and ends on 31 December 2023 In their first meeting, the government, NHS England and industry - represented by the ABPI -expected to agree to a shared negotiation aim of working toward a mutually beneficial agreement that supports better patient outcomes and a healthier population, a financially sustainable NHS, and UK economic growth. Health Minister, Will Quince, said: "These negotiations will ensure a new scheme continues to deliver value for money by providing significant savings for our health services, securing access to innovative lifesaving drugs for NHS patients, and helping to reduce waiting times - one of the Prime Minister's 5 priorities. The current voluntary scheme supports investment in NHS services and saves billions of pounds for the NHS, while also promoting innovations and a successful life sciences sector.

The University of Bath's Department of Life Sciences has introduced a series of five new online short courses for pharmacy professionals. These courses aim to support pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the UK and worldwide in meeting their compulsory Continuous Professional Development (CPD) requirements and staying current and competent in their professional practice. This initiative follows the successful accreditation of the University's Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Practice MSc by NHS England. Fully online, the new courses cover a diverse range of areas within pharmacy practice, such as mental health, pharmaceutical public health, answering queries about medicines, polypharmacy, and interpreting key blood test results. Looking ahead, the department plans to expand this series with additional courses in relevant and emerging areas, with the potential for the framework to be used across the University to deliver more online short courses for professional development. The mental health course, which aims to enable pharmacy professionals to understand how they can play a role in supporting the mental health of their patients, is offered free of charge.