The Life Sciences Council, a partnership between
government and industry, met for the first time yesterday
to discuss the future of the life sciences sector.
It was chaired jointly by the Business and Health and
Social Care Secretaries, who outlined the importance of
the life sciences sector to the modern industrial
strategy, the NHS and patients.
At the meeting, pharmaceutical company Eisai announced it
would make a further substantial investment in dementia
research in the UK, in support of the government’s
ambition to be a global hub for dementia research.
All agreed substantial progress had been made on
implementing the Life Sciences Sector Deal. The
importance of data to both industry and patients was a
key topic of discussion.
Upcoming negotiations on the price paid by the NHS for
medicines was also raised. Both government and industry
confirmed advance talks had been productive.
Brexit, the challenges and opportunities it presents
along with priorities for the sector was discussed.
Industry leaders were clear on the government’s
commitment to achieving a good outcome for the sector,
both for medicines and the wider sector.
The UK has a proud history of innovation, and both
government and industry were united today in confirming
their drive to deliver excellence.
The substantial investment announced today by Eisai’s
CEO, Dr Harou Naito, for extending its investment for
dementia research in the UK is a reflection of the high
standard of UK science, its universities and the support
of the government’s Life Science Industrial Strategy. It
also extends the close cooperation between the UK and
Japan in finding new treatments for this terrible disease
which affects so many worldwide.
