A new Advanced Therapy Manufacturing Taskforce has been launched by the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership (MMIP) to secure the future of manufacturing advanced therapies in the UK.
Co-chaired by Minister for Life Sciences George Freeman and Ian McCubbin, SVP North America, Japan & Global Pharma Supply, GlaxoSmithKline, the new taskforce will be working to identify opportunities and actions to anchor advanced therapy manufacturing and the associated supply chain in the UK and to identify any gaps in the manufacturing landscape that need to be tackled. The taskforce will complement the work of the Regenerative Medicine Expert Group (RMEG) that is developing an NHS regenerative medicine strategy so that the NHS is fully prepared to deliver these innovative treatments.
The UK is a world leader in the development of advanced therapies, with a strong research and academic infrastructure, wide-ranging support from medical charities, well equipped manufacturing base that includes the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre, and London is home to both the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
The UK’s strong manufacturing base includes 18 MHRA-licenced facilities for cell and gene therapy manufacture. The UK Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Manufacturing Centre, expected to open in 2017, will be used for the manufacture of late phase clinical trial and commercial supply of advanced therapies, complementing those early stage clinical phase manufacturing centres.
There is significant advanced therapy R&D activity in the UK and across Europe and the product pipeline is strong – indicated by the increasing volume of requests for scientific advice and classification from regulators, as well as the number of clinical trials being conducted.
Minister George Freeman said, ‘The manufacturing of advanced medicines, diagnostics and medical technology is an increasingly sophisticated activity: and the UK is home to some of the most exciting technologies and companies in this sector. By investing in 21st Century medicines manufacturing, we are securing high quality jobs and businesses in the UK as well as improving patient outcomes around the world. I look forward to working with this industry-led taskforce to deliver a plan for advanced therapy manufacturing in the UK that will benefit patients and the economy.’
