Brexit deal on medicines regulation must happen according to ABPI CEO

Mike Thompson, CEO of the ABPI, has told MPs that pharmaceutical companies are increasing medicine stocks and duplicating testing in the EU, in order to limit supply disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit, but there must be a deal in place to protect patients’ long term needs. He said some medicines “simply can’t be stockpiled due to temperature control, short shelf life or inability to travel. That is why we urgently need a deal. It is vital that both sides rapidly agree the terms of the UK’s withdrawal and a future relationship based on long-term cooperation on the regulation, trade and supply of medicines to protect public health, manage medicines safety and control infectious diseases throughout Europe.” He also pointed out that the UK needs a deal to maintain investment in UK clinical trials which benefit many patients and are profitable for the NHS.

In the event of a no-deal, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency would become the medicines and medical devices regulator, and would undertake the tasks and make the decisions that fall to the EU at the moment, for example marketing authorisation applications, paediatric investigation plans and orphan status, and pharmacovigilance responsibilities.