BIA sees opportunities for life sciences agenda in UK general election campaigning

Following yesterday's announcement by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown that a general election will - as had been widely expected - definitely take place on May 6, the country's biotechnology trade group, the BioIndustry Association (BIA) highlighted to members the opportunity this presents to promote the life sciences agenda.

Through the Office for Life Sciences, the BIA says it has ensured that life sciences has become a key priority for the current government and, whatever the result of the coming election, this must continue. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the BIA and its members to ensure that the policies emerging from this Office continue to be developed and implemented. 'When speaking to your local party candidates remind them of what the BIA have been asking for,' it stated, noting:

' Consortium relief, which will incentivise Big Pharma investment into the biotech sector;
' Improvements to the Enterprise Investment Schemes/Venture Capital Trusts to encourage early stage investment in life sciences companies;
' To ensure the UK Innovation Investment Fund meets its commitments to invest in life sciences companies;
' To deliver the Patent Box, which will encourage UK intellectual property to be exploited in the UK; and
' To deliver the Innovation Pass, which will allow for innovative medicines to get to patients more quickly