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5 March 2018Big Pharma

Theresa May explores possibility of EMA membership post-Brexit

The UK’s Prime Minister (PM) has revealed that the UK would be willing to remain part of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) after Brexit.

PM Theresa May delivered the speech on the UK’s future economic partnership with the EU in London on Friday, March 2.

May claimed that the government intends to explore the “terms on which the UK could remain part of EU agencies such as those critical for the chemicals, medicines, and aerospace industries”.

She noted that a “close relationship” between the UK and the EU is “essential for everything from getting new drugs to patients quickly to maintaining financial stability”.

The Prime Minister said the UK will seek “associate membership” of bodies including the EMA, the European Chemicals Agency, and the European Aviation Safety Agency by “making an appropriate financial contribution”.

She explained: “Membership of the EMA would mean investment in new innovative medicines continuing in the UK, and it would mean these medicines getting to patients faster as firms prioritise larger markets when they start the lengthy process of seeking authorisations.”

UK-headquartered pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca previously urged the UK to remain a member of the EMA, in efforts to ensure consistent patient care and avoid the duplication of resources by industry.

Associate membership is the “only way” to ensure products only need to secure one series of approvals in one country, according to May. She also claimed that associate membership of the UK would be good for the EU as the “UK regulator assesses more medicines than any other state”.

May said the UK will remain a “cradle for innovation” and a “leader in industries of the future” post-Brexit, whilst also remaining committed to “establishing a far-reaching science and innovation pact with the EU”.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) issued a press release in response to the speech in which Mike Thompson, chief executive of the ABPI, said it’s “critical” that patient safety is prioritised during the negotiations.

“Making sure the supply of medicines is uninterrupted is essential to ensure patients in the UK and EU can get the medicines they need from day one of Brexit,” he added.

According to the ABPI, 45 million medicine packs move from the UK to the EU every month and 37 million packs travel the other way.

In her speech, May acknowledged that “the EU is the UK’s biggest market”.

The EMA will relocate from London, UK to Amsterdam by March 2019, which was sparked by the Brexit vote.

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More on this story

Big Pharma
21 November 2017   The European Medicines Agency will relocate from its London, UK headquarters to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.
Big Pharma
8 March 2018   European Council president Donald Tusk appears to have shot down the possibility of the UK remaining part of some EU agencies, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA), after Brexit.

More on this story

Big Pharma
21 November 2017   The European Medicines Agency will relocate from its London, UK headquarters to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.
Big Pharma
8 March 2018   European Council president Donald Tusk appears to have shot down the possibility of the UK remaining part of some EU agencies, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA), after Brexit.