New partnership with ABPI set to accelerate uptake of biomedical innovations into the NHS

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the AHSN Network today announce a new, five-year partnership to accelerate the introduction and uptake of transformative biomedical innovations into the NHS.

Under the terms of the new partnership, a process will be created where AHSNs and ABPI member companies can identify and collaborate on projects to accelerate the spread of proven innovation in the NHS.

The collaborative projects will address the new national priority areas of the 15 AHSNs. These include:

• economic growth
• digital and artificial intelligence
• research
• genomics and personalised medicine
• diagnostics and medicines optimisation.

Similar agreements at regional level and for specific disease areas have already demonstrated positive results. For example, the Greater Manchester Pharmaceutical Industry Partnership has resulted in the progression of three substantial projects in Hepatitis C, COPD and mental health in its first year of operation. All of these projects have matched health system needs with industry solutions.

Mike Thompson, Chief Executive of the ABPI said:

“As a result of this new partnership, patients will be able to benefit from the innovative medicines and technologies of the future faster and more consistently.

“I’m delighted to be working with the AHSN Network on this important initiative.

“The prize for success will be a virtuous circle that delivers benefits for patients and the NHS. There will also be economic benefits to the UK from a thriving life sciences ecosystem.”

Professor Mike Hannay, Chair of the AHSN Network said:

“We are excited about the opportunities afforded by our new partnership with the ABPI, with whom we already have a long-standing and very positive relationship.

“The AHSN Network is committed to creating the right environment for industry to work with the health and social care system. The establishment of the Innovation Exchange model, commissioned by the Office for Life Sciences, provides a step change opportunity to re-engineer a more effective industry interface.

“This, together with the ABPI partnership, will enable companies to benefit from a consistent offering from whichever AHSN they interact with. In turn, the NHS will benefit from better identification of products and services that can benefit patients and the health system, as well as improved signposting to relevant agencies and programmes where not directly provided by AHSNs.”

The AHSN Network and the Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) have also formalised closer working arrangements. Read more here.