BIA warns that UK government pricing proposals would damage UK biotech

The BioIndustry Association (BIA), the UK trade association for the innovative biotechnology sector, warned yesterday (August 15) that the government's proposed pricing regime for branded medicines in the UK will put at risk future investment in the UK biotech base.

In its first public statement on the government proposals for a new statutory pricing scheme, Steve Bates, BIA chief executive, said: "The government's pricing consultation is an opportunity of vital significant importance to the UK life science sector, which will set the attractiveness of the UK as a location for ongoing medical research and development and ultimately patient access to new treatments."

"The perception of the UK as a market for innovative products has an important bearing not only on the global investment decisions of multinational biopharmaceutical companies but also upon private investment to support early stage bioscience companies. If there is uncertainty regarding the appetite in the National Health Service (NHS) to fairly support the uptake of innovation, private investors are unlikely to view investment into UK biosciences favorably.”