New Board to Help Innovation Delivery in the UK

A new Life Sciences Innovation Delivery Board (LSIDB) has been set up to champion innovation in drugs and medical technologies in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). The LSIDB wants to increase the use of cost-effective medicines and medical technologies, improve relationships between the life sciences sector and the NHS and increase the attractiveness of the UK as a site for clinical trials and product development.

Positioned at the heart of the NHS, the Board brings together senior NHS leaders, regulators (NICE), senior policy makers and industry leaders from the life sciences sector to work in collaboration. The Board seeks to ensure the NHS and industry can work together to share information, which will ultimately lead to improved services for patients. An effective partnership with the NHS will help industry to focus on the development of new medicines and medical devices designed to meet the needs of the NHS and its patients.

Mike Farrar, Chairman of the Life Sciences Innovation Delivery Board, says, “This is an exciting and important initiative for the NHS. It’s hard to think of a more significant, mutually reliant relationship that is conducted under such difficult circumstances. The aim of this new Board is to enable the life sciences industry and the NHS to work together in collaboration for the benefit of patients. This can only be good news for all parties concerned.”

The UK life sciences industry employs more than 120,000 people and invests approximately £5 billion in research and development in the UK. Over the next three years, the NHS will need to realise between £15 billion and £20 billion in efficiency savings. According to Sir David Nicholson, Chief Executive of the NHS in England, “Our best chance lies in improving quality and productivity, linked together by innovation driving sustained improvements.”

For more information, contact Tracey Halstead, tel. 01663 734 789, e-mail: tracey@indigompr.co.uk

Tags: Life Sciences Innovation Delivery Board