Some of the UK’s largest drugmakers are set to meet ministers over Brexit concerns next month
Pharmaceuticals bosses are set to meet with ministers next month in a bid to press their case for government support in the ahead of formal talks on quitting the EU.
Business secretary Greg Clark said today that the government had reassured automaker Nissan over its negotiating plans for Brexit, and now the drugmakers are to follow suit with their own session with ministers.
A life sciences steering committee chaired by Sir Andrew Witty and Pascal Soriot, the chief executives of Glaxo Smith Kline and Astrazeneca, is set to meet the government late next month.
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However, Mike Thompson, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), stressed there was no correlation between his own sector's talks and those held with Nissan last month.
"After already hearing the Prime Minister, members of the Cabinet and MPs highlight the strategic importance of the pharmaceutical industry, any agreement between Downing Street and Nissan will have no bearing at all on what has already been constructive dialogue between our sector and Government,” Thompson said.
“As a £60bn industry and strategic partner to the NHS, we will continue to work with all partners to secure a successful and dynamic future for UK life sciences and UK patients outside of the EU.”
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Over the summer, drugmakers drew up their key concerns for the sector post-Brexit at the request of government.
In a manifesto document issued by the ABPI, they cited desire for a consistent regulatory framework, access to European talent, easy cross-border trade as well as the loss of substantial funding provided by the EU.
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The meeting comes as US pharmaceuticals firm Mallinckrodt confirmed plans to build its global corporate headquarters in Staines.
Chief executive Mark Trudeau told Morning Wire that although the decision to create the new site was taken ahead of the EU referendum, it was unaffected by the Brexit vote.
"Our investment in new offices in Staines upon Thames reflects the hospitable political and economic environment offered by the UK, and we do not believe the Brexit vote changes those fundamentals," Trudeau said.
"While we are confident that, post-Brexit, a close business relationship between the UK and the EU will be maintained, Mallinckrodt is focused on the economic and political fundamentals of the UK market in particular, which we believe remain strong."