UK is Front Runner in European Early-Stage Clinical Research

According to the first annual resport into clinical trials by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the United Kingdom is leading the rest of Europe in early-stage clinical research into new medicines and vaccines.

Some areas of strength for the UK’s clinical research sector include cancer, heart disease, immunology, and conditions affecting the nervous system. However, the report also highlights that despite the UK’s leading position at early stages of clinical research, it drops below Germany and Spain when the research progresses to later stages. On the global stage, the UK falls to fifth, with the United States and Canada joining Germany and Spain in the top four positions.

Additionally, ABPI revealed in a Nov. 21, 2019 press release, that the UK is also set to encounter a number of challenges, such as Brexit and increasing competition, that will impact the country’s rankings at both the European and global level. As the US continues to dominate the sector and with Asia rapidly growing, ABPI reports that maintaining a strong sector in the UK will be integral to supporting continued investment in European science collaborations.

In the report, ABPI provides seven recommendations to help ensure the UK not only maintains but also grows its position as a medicines R&D hub. These recommendations include increasing investment, building a suitable workforce, simplifying the clinical trials processes, and ensuring a future UK-Europe relationship for medicines research during the period of Brexit uncertainty.

“The report shows the importance of the UK globally and the pressing need to keep pace with other established and emerging research hubs in order to continue to attract commercial clinical research,” said Dr Sheuli Porkess, executive director of research, medical, and innovation at the ABPI, in the press release.

“The UK’s world-leading clinical research sector is a rare good news story, and the next government cannot let this position slip,” added Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians. “Amid the heat of Brexit, we must continue to invest in life-sciences research.”

More information and details on the report can be found on ABPI’s website.

Source: ABPI