BIA welcomes government response to 'Bioscience 2015'

The BioIndustry Association (BIA) has welcomed the publication of the Government's response to the Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team report, 'Bioscience 2015'.

'Several positive steps have been made towards addressing the recommendations in "Bioscience 2015". The BIA has warmly welcomed the announcement in the Budget of additional funding for NHS r&d - this is a great start, but additional funding will be required to ensure the success of this initiative. The establishment of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration is also an important step in improving the UK's clinical research infrastructure, although urgent issues such as the length of the drug approval process and cost-effectiveness issues must be addressed if the UK is to succeed,'said Aisling Burnand, BIA chief executive.

'However, if UK bioscience is to survive, it is essential that we get the funding environment right. The European bioscience industry faces a near-term funding crisis and it is at a disadvantage relative to the US, which boasts a more attractive funding environment.

'It is disappointing that the Government's response does not yet fully support any of the report's key recommendations on funding. The report called for several measures to improve the liquidity of emerging bioscience companies, such as changes to pre-emption rights and extending the scope of the Corporate Venturing Scheme and r&d tax credits. Government has a significant role to play in helping to create a funding environment in which the UK sector can thrive. It is time to act now, before it is too late to catch up with international competitors,' added Aisling Burnand.

It is also essential to ensure a secure environment for the medical research sector. The BIA and partner organisations have been strongly urging the Government for some time to introduce a new single piece of legislation that will definitively deal with the ongoing violence, home visits and intimidation that continues to be faced daily by those involved in medical research using animals.

'Previous attempts to amend existing legislation have provided brief respite to the problem. We urge the Government to tackle this comprehensively to prevent r&d being driven abroad,' said Aisling Burnand.