Labour has publishes expert reaction to Life Sciences sector plan

Labour has published expert reaction to new its Life Sciences sector plan to create thousands of jobs and inject growth into research and development investment.

An AstraZeneca spokesperson said:

“Patients in the UK rely on a vibrant and successful life sciences community. It is crucial that we all work together to nurture this dynamic sector by tackling present challenges and building on the UK’s established strengths, which this plan seeks to address. This includes ensuring that NHS patients have equitable access to the latest medical innovations, creating a competitive environment for investment, and increasing support for science and research. AstraZeneca is a significant investor in the UK's life sciences ecosystem and is eager to work alongside our partners to deliver its full growth potential.”

A GSK spokesperson said:

“It’s good to see Labour’s life sciences plan recognise the opportunities and competitive advantage the UK has in life sciences. It’s critical that we continue to build on these strengths so we can deliver the future productivity, growth and jobs we need, and bring the new ways of preventing and treating disease that patients want. It’s up to all of us to deliver this in partnership.”

Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said:

“This strategy reflects the extensive and thoughtful engagement with stakeholders that the Labour Party has undertaken. With its focus on the long term, practical measures to boost investment in research, and the emphasis on quality data to underpin future strategy, this plan will help our industry to deliver the cutting-edge treatments NHS patients need and deserve and help the UK to better compete on the global stage.”

Darius Hughes, UK General Manager at Moderna, said:

"Moderna welcomes the Labour Party's plans to support the life sciences sector. We believe that through a programme of close collaboration between government, industry, and academia, we can create a thriving ecosystem that not only fosters innovation but accelerates the delivery of healthcare solutions to patients nationwide."

Ben Lucas, Managing Director, MSD UK and Ireland, said:

“As a significant inward investor to the UK, MSD welcomes the strength of ambition for life sciences and innovation under a future Labour Government, outlined in today’s Life Sciences Sector Plan.

“This Plan represents a clear and holistic approach, with positive measures to strengthen the regulatory operating environment, harness data to improve services for patients and power medical research, and a commitment to champion high standards in intellectual property protections on the international stage and in the context of a UK trade strategy.

“The real focus on strengthening governance and driving delivery of this plan represents a significant step forward, and a vote of confidence in the transformational impact that innovation can have on the health of the UK population and the growth of the economy.”

Jessamy Baird, Country Lead Sanofi UK and Ireland, said:

“The Life Sciences sector plays a vital role in supporting the health of the nation and is one of the most valuable sectors to our economy. At Sanofi, we are keen to work with all stakeholders to build an internationally competitive life sciences ecosystem, that attracts investment and ensures the public can benefit from medical and technological innovations. This will help prevent disease progression and hospitalisations, free up NHS capacity and help get people back into work to support the economy.”    

Hugo Breda, Johnson & Johnson MedTech UK and Ireland, said:

“Johnson & Johnson is the largest, most diversified healthcare products company in the world, across medtech, pharmaceuticals, and early innovation with a substantial and long-term economic presence in the UK. For more than 100 years, we have been at the forefront of innovation to transform and champion health and deliver better patient outcomes.  

“We have welcomed the publication of Labour’s plan for the life science sector and the emphasis that they have placed on this sector as a key area of innovation for delivery of better healthcare and strong economic growth. We believe that whatever government is elected this year, it has a unique opportunity to create better patient outcomes as well as a more sustainable environment for the industry, supporting both the health and wealth of the UK.”  

Lea Milligan, CEO of MQ Mental Health Research, Chair of Collective Voice, the UKs Drug and Alcohol Services Network, Executive Council at the Association of Medical Research Charities, said:

“The Labour Party's new plan for the life sciences sector is a timely and welcome commitment to bolster R&D health investment, cementing the UK's position as a leader in life sciences. Central to the plan is an important acknowledgement of the pivotal role of the NHS in fostering innovation and improving patient outcomes by working hand-in-hand with researchers, regulators and industry. It’s important when realising this plan that patient lived experience is at the heart of the development and that a broad biopsychosocial portfolio is at the core of ambition.

The plan's emphasis on innovation and technology must be balanced with a holistic approach to healthcare that addresses the psychological, as well as the physical, and mental health of patients. As a research charity, we're excited to see the sector plan made accessible and affordable for all, ensuring that advancements in life sciences translate into tangible improvements in patient care, including mental health services. 

The plan's focus on reducing bureaucracy and increasing the number of successful university spinouts is promising, and the novelty of the “Founder Track” addresses the need for facilitating a pathway for academics to launch their solutions into the real world. It is vital to ensure that the quality of innovation and research does not get compromised in the quest for quantity and speed. A rigorous, yet flexible regulatory framework is essential to maintain the highest standards of safety and efficacy in healthcare. 

“The Labour Party's life sciences sector plan is a forward-thinking proposal building on the great work of the Office for Life Sciences so far, with the potential to invigorate the UK's position in global life sciences.”

Professor Dame Sally Davies, Master of Trinity College Cambridge, said:

“Life Sciences, from basic, through development to manufacturing play a central role in our UK economy. So, I very much welcome the new Labour Party Strategy for growth, which continues cross party support and underlines the importance of delivery, including of the O’Shaughnessy report.”

Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, said: 

“This is an ambitious and welcome vision. A thriving UK life sciences sector can bring real benefits for patients, making it easier and quicker to get the latest treatments from the laboratory to people. 

“Making life sciences a key responsibility of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is a welcome proposal and would help cement the link between the life sciences industry and health and care services. It is also good to see a recognition that current approaches to clinical trials can entrench health inequalities by inadvertently excluding some communities from trials. Making it easier for people to take part in research, wherever they live, would increase diversity and be a welcome step. 

“Turning the ambitions set out in this plan into reality will require detailed thinking on how to overcome knotty issues, such as building public trust so health data can be used for innovations and achieving the long-held ambition of better-connected IT systems to share that data. Similarly, the commitment to provide long term budget certainty to life sciences is a welcome ambition, but history tells us it can be hard to deliver. This plan sets out many welcome goals – implementing the necessary changes to achieve those goals will be the real challenge.”

Michelle Mitchell OBE, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, said:

“We welcome Labour’s Life Sciences Strategy and its recognition of the importance of clinical research to the UK. Cutting red tape will help get more trials up and running, get more patients joining trials and make faster progress towards new treatments. But we need to see more staff time dedicated to research within the NHS, so patients can benefit earlier from promising new treatments.

“Patients and scientists alike want to see all political parties backing science and research in the election. With every £1 spent on cancer research generating £2.80 for the UK economy, we want to see life sciences at the heart of government strategies to boost economic growth and improve our health and wellbeing.”

Nicola Perrin MBE, Chief Executive, Association of Medical Research Charities, said:

“Our manifesto emphasises the importance of getting the basics right to support life sciences research, improve economic growth, and deliver benefits to patients across the UK. This would enable medical research charities to invest with confidence and find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. This strategy outlines an important first step – ensuring a joined-up approach to support the building blocks that underpin the R&D sector.”