Pharmaceutical Industry - Innovation is the only way forward. (2020health blog) – August 2013
Proposal: Innovation must continue to be strongly encouraged.
Response: Innovation remains at the heart of Conservative Party thinking.
Pharmaceutical companies must be free to determine their own research priorities: Lessons from Alzheimer’s Disease (2020health blog) – October 2013
Proposal: Drug companies are in the best position to decide what to research
Response: Governments should resist any temptation to influence how R&D spending is split between projects within companies.
Are pharmaceutical mega-mergers in the public interest?(2020health blog) – May 2014
Proposal: In order to justify mergers, pharmaceutical R&D needs to be arranged more like it was in the 1980’s. Pfizer must speak for itself about its future R&D intentions but its actions over the Sandwich site and its recent R&D strategy give grounds for concern over how well placed it is to serve as guardian to a large slice of the UK’s pharmaceutical R&D.
Response: Pfizer admitted defeat on 26/5/2014
Are pharmaceutical mega-mergers in the public interest?(2020health blog) – May 2014
Proposal: In order to justify mergers, pharmaceutical R&D needs to be arranged more like it was in the 1980’s. Pfizer must speak for itself about its future R&D intentions but its actions over the Sandwich site and its recent R&D strategy give grounds for concern over how well placed it is to serve as guardian to a large slice of the UK’s pharmaceutical R&D.
Response: Pfizer admitted defeat on 26/5/2014
The Future of Pharmaceutical R&D(2020health blog) – April 2011
Proposal: Drug companies should be able to raise R&D productivity by improving the management of R&D.
Response: The failure of the R&D model that has been adopted by many large pharmaceutical companies has been widely recognised in recent months. David Cameron highlighted the matter in his speech on 5 December 2011.
The UK Needs More Biotechnology Companies (2020health blog) – May 2011
Proposal: Scientists should be encouraged to acquire business skills relevant to biotechnology.
Response: The way in which small biotechnology companies in the USA rather than big pharmaceutical giants have often been driving innovation is being increasingly accepted. The importance of small companies was stressed in his speech on 5 December 2011.
What should we expect from medical and pharmaceutical R&D in the future?(2020health blog) – September 2011
Proposal: The choice of research projects is an area that governments should generally leave to professionals and not seek to influence.
Response: The November 2013 agreement on drug pricing does not attempt to influence how R&D budgets are spent.
How to encourage pharmaceutical R&D(2020health blog) – February 2011
Proposal: The skills needed for successful drug R&D should be covered more explicitly at university.
Response: The importance of the right focus in developing graduates has been highlighted by Richard Sykes and has been touched upon by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Proposal: Government should lobby internationally where the UK alone has insufficient influence.
Response: Other countries (e.g Germany) are increasingly facing similar problems to the UK. Global innovation for the benefit of mankind could be best achieved by working together.
Proposal: Cross party support should be encouraged in view of long time-scales in R&D.
Response: Richard Sykes has stressed how the support of successive Governments for the old drug pricing scheme (PPRS) used to benefit the drug industry. Stability is important.
Which Drugs are the Most Innovative? (2020health blog) – November 2010
Proposal:The most support is needed for companies going through a barren period in R&D.
Response:The subsequent cutbacks by Pfizer and others highlight the importance of this point.
Pharmaceutical R&D – the value of radical innovation versus incremental progress(2020health blog) – March 2012
Proposal: R&D should be directed towards trying to improve the treatment of patients as much as possible irrespective of the degree of innovation involved.
Response: The November 2013 pricing agreement rewards innovation without passing judgement on R&D goals.
Response to HM Treasury Informal Consultation on R&D Tax Credits (Submission to HM Treasury) – February 2011
Proposal: The legislation and regulations should make clear how they are to be interpreted in different industries.
Response: The Government said in June 2011 that draft guidance will be issued to clarify the meaning of production" in a number of different situations.
What Women Want: A Manifesto for Health 2010 (Wide-ranging publication with articles from 17 women, compiled by 2020health, Barbara’s article on pages 9 - 12)
Proposal: Higher drug prices and other financial incentives for companies with R&D or manufacturing in the UK
Response: Treasury proposals put forward in November 2010 over the patent box and R&D tax credits. Lansley’s linkage of drug pricing with unmet healthcare needs and innovation, also in November 2010.