Pharma and biotech leaders support post-Brexit deal to protect their sectors and their patients

The BEIS Strategy Committee has published a report on the impact of Brexit on the pharmaceutical sector, highlighting the need for the closest possible regulatory alignment with the European Medicines Agency. It warns of the risk of the UK pharma sector losing its status as a world leading research centre, and that patients are at risk of harm. The committee said, “what little benefits there may be from regulatory divergence [from Europe], these would be greatly overshadowed by the costs and loss of markets and influence the UK would face.”

A joint statement by the ABPI and the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) said: “Every month, 45 million packs of medicine move from the UK to the EU, with 37 million moving the other way. Today’s Select Committee Report is right – a Brexit ‘no deal’ would significantly damage public health, patient access to medicines and the UK’s leading pharmaceutical sector. This must be avoided at all costs. Securing co-operation on the regulation, trade and supply of medicines must be a priority for both the UK Government and the EU.”

The committee went on to say that based on the evidence it had received, “having to split away from the EMA would impost extra costs of £45,000 for each new product released, making the UK an unattractive market for new medicines.” They have called for a continued form of membership of the EMA as a priority. Rachel Reeves MP, chairperson of the BEIS Strategy Committee said, ”It is now time for the Government to end the uncertainty and translate words into actions. Some form of membership of the EMA is vital to the continued success of the pharma industry and to the welfare of British patients, and the Government should strike a deal to keep some of the organisation’s jobs and facilities in the UK, to continue to share our world-leading expertise.”