Summary

The innovative pharmaceutical industry has the potential to drive the health and wealth of the UK. It already makes a significant contribution to UK research and development (R&D) investment, worth around £5 billion in 2020.¹ The medicines and vaccines our industry develops are transformative for public health, patients and the NHS.

This manifesto sets out the ABPI’s vision for how the UK can overtake its global competitors. Implementing these proposals will create a virtuous cycle, where investment in medicines and research accelerates future waves of innovation and attracts an increased UK share of global R&D.

Delivering these proposals requires a true partnership between industry and government, centred on the principles of collaboration, transparency of delivery, and a unified approach to health and growth.

1. Life science competitiveness indicators 2022 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

We have three key asks of the next government:

Ask 1: Strengthen the development, regulation and adoption journey for new medicines and vaccines, making the UK a beacon for global research investment.

Create a joined-up life sciences ecosystem with the resources and capacity to deliver rapid approvals, leading to rapid adoption and use of medicines by the NHS.
Set a goal for the UK to have the highest level of public R&D investment in the G7.
Reverse the decline in industry clinical trials in the UK.
Establish a world-leading, heath data-enabled patient recruitment service for clinical trials.
Create a seamless pathway between genetic testing, personalised medicines access, and clinical trials.
Ensure that the UK’s health data offer is globally competitive.

Quicker patient access to new medicines via clinical trials.

Increasing recruitment to industry clinical trials could unlock up to £3.5bn of income for the NHS over five years,

including up to £678m in cost savings from medicines and treatments provided free by companies through clinical trials.

Greater cost efficiencies for the system. Many parts of the system required to deliver R&D improvements already exist, but they are operating in isolation.

Combining assets and expertise to design and deliver the right services for patients, the NHS and industry will create cost efficiencies, attract inward investment and maximise taxpayers' money.

Source: PWC, Life Sciences Superpower Report, June 2022.

Ask 2: Work with industry as a partner to drive better health, investing in medicines and vaccines to improve prevention and health equity and deliver a sustainable NHS.

Ensure delivery of key commitments in the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access, and Growth (VPAG).²
Value the long-term benefits of medicines appropriately.
Reform the Innovative Medicines Fund in England so that it works for patients.
Prepare the ground for a new generation of innovative vaccines and support vaccine access and uptake.
Provide dedicated central funding for the National Action Plan to protect the world from the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2024-voluntary-scheme-for-branded-medicines-pricing-access-and-growth

1.2m

additional currently eligible NHS patients getting treatment

429,000

additional years of life in good health for patients

£17.9bn

in productivity gains for the UK

£5.5bn

Source: PWC Transforming Lives, Raising Productivity.

Ask 3: Equip industry with the tools to drive UK economic growth, safeguarding intellectual property, removing trade barriers and incentivising advanced medicines manufacturing and skills development.

Strengthen global trade in life sciences outputs at the World Trade Organization (WTO) by continuing to advocate for international IP frameworks.
Use the full range of mechanisms in its trade policy toolkit to promote UK life science exports as a key growth sector.
Deliver a truly cross-departmental approach to education and skills, with regular collaboration with businesses to address current and future skills needs.
Make the UK a world leader in advanced and sustainable medicines manufacturing by delivering a long-term programme of capital grants and innovation funding.
Deliver stability for prospective investors by providing an internationally competitive tax and fiscal incentives environment for R&D and capital investment.