The new Labour government has launched a £400 million investment initiative, supported by major pharmaceutical companies, aimed at providing patients with expedited access to innovative medications.

This groundbreaking public-private partnership, touted as a global first, will establish up to 18 clinical trial centers across the UK and enhance patient recruitment for these trials. Additionally, researchers will benefit from advanced technology that facilitates the conducting of trials in hospitals, general practitioner offices, and residential care facilities.

The funding will also focus on programs to minimize waste and reduce emissions within the pharmaceutical industry, alongside efforts to update how the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) evaluates the cost-effectiveness and clinical value of new medicines.

Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, remarked, “This private sector investment is a crucial endorsement for the UK and will expedite the emergence of the next wave of treatments for NHS patients.”

The five-year Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access, and Growth (VPAG) is a collaborative agreement among the health department, NHS England, and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). The ABPI represents prominent pharmaceutical firms, including AstraZeneca, GSK, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Novo Nordisk.

According to research from the ABPI, the number of industry-sponsored clinical trials conducted annually in the UK increased from 394 in 2021 to 411 in 2022, though this figure is still significantly lower than the peak of 690 trials recorded in 2015. On a global scale, the UK stands in tenth place for the number of phase three trials.

Richard Torbett, chief executive of the ABPI, stated, “The life sciences sector has immense potential to contribute to the UK, but achieving this requires improvements to the NHS, enhanced patient access to medicines, and increased investment in our essential science and regulatory frameworks.”

Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science and Technology, added, “We are committed to ensuring that the most effective new treatments are accessible to NHS patients by positioning the UK as the premier location for the discovery and implementation of new medicines, spanning from initial research and clinical trials to manufacturing.”

“Investing in state-of-the-art medicine research not only bolsters our economic growth prospects but also enhances the availability of new therapies and technologies for contemporary patient care. Support for clinical trials is fundamental to achieving both objectives.”