Home  Media Press releases 2004
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| 31 March 2004 | 2004-03-31T00:00:00.0000000+01:00 |
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ASTRAZENECA CEO CALLS FOR INTEGRATED BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH STRATEGY AT AMS LECTURE
Sir Tom McKillop, Chief Executive AstraZeneca PLC, today will call for an integrated biomedical research strategy and a European Market Place ready to reward innovation to reverse Europe’s relative decline in biomedical research. Sir Tom McKillop will make these remarks when he delivers the Second Annual Forum Lecture to the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS).
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He said, “In the last 20 years, total research expenditure in the USA has grown to 2.8 per cent of GDP whilst in Europe it has fallen from 2.4 per cent to 1.9 per cent of GDP. The success of the pharmaceuticals industry is linked to research. In 1980, eight out of the 10 top drugs in the world were invented in European laboratories. Today, eight out of the 10 top drugs were invented in US laboratories.
This mirrors the progressive decline in the relative size of the European Pharmaceutical Market caused by the slow adoption of new medicines and an unwillingness to reward innovative products. European citizens are being denied access to the best new treatments.
We stand on the threshold of a new biomedical research revolution based on advances in a whole array of technologies. If we are to restore our lost competitiveness and play a meaningful role in improving the understanding of cancer, cardiovascular, mental health, respiratory, gastrointestinal and infectious diseases and deliver new and improved treatments, it is vital that European constraints on the success of biomedical research are removed.
Adoption by European Member States of the European Commission’s G10 *proposals will begin the process of correcting many of the distortions and deficiencies in Europe.
A European Biomedical Research Strategy with clear priorities and proper funding is required that will increase investment in science education and training, encourage more entrepreneurship and industrial collaborations in our universities; strengthen European Clinical Research capabilities and improve the regulatory and legal framework.
Properly implemented, a Pan-European Biomedical Research Strategy which recognises the importance of the European research-based pharmaceutical industry will deliver improvements in the treatment of diseases that, in turn, will increase life expectancy, improve the quality of life for millions of patients and lead to enhanced wealth creation and economic benefits.”
*The G10 Group was set up by European Commissioners Liikanen and Byrne to recommend ways of improving pharmaceutical industry competitiveness in the EU while encouraging high levels of health provision.
Media Enquiries:
Steve Brown, +44 207 304 5033
Edel McCaffrey, +44 207 304 5034
Investor Enquiries:
Mina Blair-Robinson, +44 207 304 5084
Jonathan Hunt, +44 207 304 5087
Media Enquiries to the Academy:
Ms Laurence Ehlers, +44 207 969 5287
Notes for Editors:
The Academy of Medical Sciences promotes advances in medical science and campaigns for these to be translated as rapidly as possible into benefits for patients. The Academy’s 750 Fellows are the UK’s leading medical scientists from industry, academia, hospitals and public service.
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