UCB chief joins Innovative Medicines Initiative board

UCB chief executive Roch Doliveux has joined the governing board of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), the firm announced this week.

Founded in 2006, the IMI is a public-private partnership between the European Union and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).

Mr Doliveux, who joined UCB in 2003 and became chief executive in January 2005, described the organisation as “a leading player in European biomedical research”.

He added: “We are working to improve the efficiency of the industry in bringing safe, efficacious, cost-effective treatments to patients.”

The IMI receives funding of €1 billion (£869 million) from the European Commission via the seventh framework programme, while donations from EFPIA member companies match that amount.

UCB said it is currently participating in ten of the 15 initial consortia within the IMI, contributing to research on topics such as neurodegenerative disorders, pain research, immunogenicity and predictive toxicology.

Prince Lorenz of Belgium recently stood down from his position on the board at UCB after completing three terms.