The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has launched its General Election 2020 Manifesto for Medicine.

The industry body is calling on all parties to ensure that their policies support UK science and research and help maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in medicines and vaccines development into the future.

Pharmaceutical companies in the UK collectively employ 63,000 people and invest £4.3 billion in UK R&D – more than any other sector. The ABPI says the next Government should capitalise on the UK’s world-leading life science industry and improve the health of NHS patients by:

1. Prioritising patients and health security in the future UK – EU relationship​

The UK’s membership of the EU has shaped and enforced much of the scientific, regulatory and trade infrastructure for the life sciences sector. We believe the next Government should secure a deal with the EU and future relationship based on cooperation on medicines regulation, trade, access to talent and science and innovation.

2. Building a thriving environment for medicine discovery so the UK can be the best place in the world to research and develop new medicines and vaccines

We believe the next Government should commit to boosting R&D investment in partnership with industry to reach the target of investing 2.4% of GDP in R&D by 2027, modernise the R&D tax credit and capital grant structure, create a new Life Sciences Skills Fund and maintain the UK’s status as a world leader in intellectual property. 

3. Making the UK the best place in the world for patients to get cuttin…