Delivering the medicines of tomorrow
Medicine development represents major opportunities for UK pharmaceutical companies, says Stephen Whitehead of the ABPI
T
he Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) represents innovative research-based biopharmaceutical companies, large, medium and small,
leading a new era of biosciences in the UK. ABPI members supply 90 per cent of all medicines used by the NHS, and are researching and developing over two-thirds of the current medicines pipeline.
How does the ABPI work to develop the medicines of tomorrow? On average, it takes over 12 years and costs over £1 billion to develop new medicines. Medicine development is changing: medicines are becoming more complex; they are being developed for more specific patient populations and we are also targeting rarer diseases. To deliver the medicines of tomorrow, it is crucial that everyone involved in medicine development – patients, academics, the National Health Service, regulators and industry – work together to make it more efficient. The ABPI works with partners across a number of different areas to improve the efficiency of medicine development. Ultimately, the aim of the ABPI is to ensure patients have access to new medicines when they need them. The ABPI believes that a focus
STEPHEN WHITEHEAD
Stephen Whitehead was appointed to the role of Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) in June 2011. He is the chief advocate for the research-based industry in the
UK. Stephen sits on the ABPI Board of Management and is responsible for all aspects of the ABPI’s work. Most recently Stephen played a core role in successful pricing negotiations with the Department of Health which delivered a transformational deal for industry and patients. His expertise is in policy, public affairs, communications, pricing and reimbursement, social policy issues and reputation management.
on stratified medicine development, as part of an integrated stakeholder healthcare strategy in the service of patients, continues to represent a major opportunity for the UK to demonstrate world-class leadership.
How important is this work globally and in the UK? Stratified medicine has real potential to change the way we think about, identify and manage problems with our health. The ABPI believes that the UK has an exceptional opportunity to realise the benefit of stratified medicine for all stakeholders, not least patients. A stratified approach to medicine has already proven beneficial in the treatment of a number of cancers, and researchers are identifying more and more biomarkers that could be used to refine treatments in the future. What is less acknowledged is the rising number of non-cancer stratified applications in development and – just as importantly – those which are already in use in the NHS, helping to deliver the right medicine, to the right patient, right now. Progress in stratified medicine has been made possible through a strong alliance between industry, the NHS, funders of biomedical science and the regulator. It is this partnership that will continue to provide the springboard for further success, ensuring full engagement of all parties dedicated towards a single goal: improving health outcomes for patients.
How does the ABPI work with the government to implement new strategies for development? We engage with key governmental bodies on a wide range of regulatory, research and commercial areas through regular meetings and briefings. For example, we work with the Department of Health, NIHR and others to drive forward clinical research in the UK. We also coordinate industry responses to relevant consultations.
What is the key to underpinning investment in the UK? It is very important that a favourable environment is
84 Global Opportunity Healthcare 2015 | Issue 01
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ABPI
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