A new era for UK life sciences and Labour’s challenge to convert vision into reality

The dust has settled on the summer general election, and, with Parliamentary recess over, the new government is focusing again on its ambitions. Ministers’ in-trays will be full of immediate challenges, but with at least one full Parliamentary term ahead of it, the government has the opportunity to balance tackling immediate priorities with more long-term strategic planning.

Health and life sciences is clearly a key focus area for the new government. Labour published its dedicated health mission and plan for the life sciences sector before the election, signalling clear intent.

New health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, has wasted no time in office, asking Lord Darzi to conduct an immediate review of NHS performance, which will feed into next year’s 10-year plan for the NHS. The government’s openness for industry input into the review shows the value it places on wider stakeholders’ views; it’s why Ipsen was proud to contribute to the public consultation.

The Labour leadership clearly sees life sciences as a critical, high-potential sector and is sending all the right messages about supporting growth and innovation. The task will now be to convert words into action for the benefit of patients, the health system, and the wider economy.

The new government will understandably want to stamp its own mark on life sciences policy, but part of the job will be implementing much of the work that was started under the previous Conservative administration.

While the O’Shaughnessy Review of the health of commercial clinical trials in the UK paints a concerning picture of how far we have slipped in relation to comparative countries over the last decade, it also recognised the presence of promising green shoots of recovery. The review put forward tangible recommendations that can make a real difference to patients, such as addressing diversity in clinical trial populations. Ipsen continues to invest in clinical trials in the UK. Moreover, we are working hard to ensure that patients from different communities and backgrounds have a voice in the development of treatments that may improve their health outcomes through engagement of those patients in shaping our trials.

Full implementation of the review’s recommendations must be an immediate priority for Keir Starmer’s government. The recently announced £400m public-private collaboration is a good start, recognising the benefit of both life sciences investment and partnership with industry. But there’s more to be done if we want to see globally competitive research and development in the UK.

All this is crucial not just for the health of the nation and the availability of new therapeutic innovations, but for the UK’s economic success. A recent industry report from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry estimated commercial clinical trials contributed £7.4bn in gross value added to the UK economy in 2022, with the NHS itself benefitting from £1.2bn in direct funding from this activity.

Addressing the unmet need for patients with rare diseases is at the heart of Ipsen’s ethos, and this should be the case for the government too. We are concerned that an increasing number of medicines for rare diseases are not being launched in the UK, hindering patient access and overall health outcomes.

Resolving this issue may require a fresh look at regulatory barriers and support for the manufacturing landscape, but clear and considered government-level policy leadership is essential. The rare disease framework is due to expire in 2025. While this and the associated action plans have been welcomed by the wider life sciences sector, the UK still lags behind other countries. Rare diseases may not be seen as an immediate priority for the government, but improved patient outcomes demand the right investments, strategy, and policy direction.

Despite the previous government’s stated ambitions to become a life sciences “superpower”, the commercial environment poses significant barriers to success. The new government now has the opportunity to address existing barriers to growth and innovation in the UK life sciences sector.

Ipsen continues to invest in the UK and is committed to working with the government, the health system, and industry partners to ensure the UK delivers against its potential as a global life sciences leader.

A flourishing UK life sciences industry can ensure access to the latest innovations for patients as well as contribute substantially to much-needed (and in recent years elusive) economic growth. It is the responsibility of this Labour government to create the right conditions and the supportive infrastructure to make that happen.