In response to the publication of the Government's Life Sciences Sector Plan, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult's Chief Executive, Matthew Durdy, said:
The Government aims for the UK life sciences economy to become the world's third most important, with predictions that it could grow by £41bn by 2035, according to ambitions included in the Life Sciences Sector Plan. For this to be achieved, the advanced therapies industry has an important role to play, and measures outlined in the sector plan will help this industry unlock its potential.
Encouraging investment in the sector through the British Business Bank will support start-ups and early-stage companies access the finance they need to continue their journey to commercialisation. The Government aims for more scale-up finance being raised by life sciences businesses in the UK than anywhere else in Europe by 2030. This access to finance is vital to ensure that there is a flow of new medicines and ideas coming through from our research base into development, and ultimately reaching the patients who need them.
Investment in manufacturing, of up to £520m for the life sciences as a whole, is needed to ensure that, as demand for advanced therapies rises, the UK has sufficient infrastructure to deliver these therapies on a large scale.
A move to cut set-up times for commercial clinical trials to fewer than 150 days, will help attract international companies that are choosing a base for their cell and gene therapy trials. In 2024, the UK was represented in 9.5% of all advanced therapy global trials and almost 50% of European advanced therapy trials. Removing barriers to market entry and faster regulatory approval, will further support the UK's clinical trial ecosystem.
Advanced therapies can be life-changing for patients, providing relief from diseases where there may not be effective alternative treatment options, and they have potential to be a crucial part of the Government's ambition to make life sciences a cornerstone of economic renewal and a healthier UK.
We look forward to continuing our work with Government, industry and the healthcare sector, and contributing to the success of the UK life sciences ecosystem.