EFPIA Outlines Priorities Following Brexit Vote

A statement from the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Association (EFPIA) today states urges that, in the wake of the UK's decision to leave the European Union, "[e]nsuring that Brexit does not negatively impact the regulatory capacity, processes and time-frames for the introduction of new medicines must be a priority".

"Collaboration, funding and a regulatory environment that supports innovation are all critical to ... continued success across Europe," the statement goes on. "The pharmaceutical industry is a vital part of the UK and European economy contributing €75 billion to the trade balance and employing over 700,000 people. The inevitable uncertainty generated by the Brexit vote makes long-term investment decisions and business planning problematic. As policy makers consider how Britain leaves the EU, every effort should be made to reduce uncertainty for patients and businesses."

The "regulatory integration of the UK’s medicine agency into the EMA’s ecosystem" is also a priority, EFPIA adds, as is "ensuring that the patient is at the centre of all subsequent decisions".

With the process of the UK leaving the EU "likely to be long and complex", EFPIA asserts that pharma "stands ready to work closely with governments and EU institutions to minimize its impact on patients and secure the future of medical innovation across Europe".