Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care welcomes £100 million public-private investment boost to unlock cutting-edge treatments

Jeremy Miles, Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, has welcomed news that patients in Wales will have greater access to cutting edge treatments thanks to a £100 million public-private funding boost.

The funding, made available via the wider £400 million Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme, will see 20 Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) set up across the UK, acting as regional hubs for pioneering clinical trials and creating opportunities to test innovative new treatments with the latest equipment and technology.

Clinical trials will build UK research delivery leadership into all conditions across multi-specialist centres. This includes cancer and obesity, as well as infectious diseases such as flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The CRDCs will support the rapid set-up of commercial studies so patients can begin accessing treatments undergoing trials as early as possible.

In support of the 10 Year Health Plan, CRDCs will shift clinical trials into community settings, meaning those in under-served regions will be better able to participate in research. This will boost access to new treatments in the trial stage.

The Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles said:

“Investing in a One Wales Commercial Research Delivery Centre (Wales CRDC) will help to strengthen our approach to clinical trials and increase the opportunities for people to access new and innovative treatments. Research studies can deliver real benefits to patient care, and we are committed to working in partnership across the UK to boost commercial global research.” 

Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron said: 

“This significant private investment in health research is a powerful vote of confidence in the UK’s leading research and life sciences sector.

“The new hubs will help shift research into smaller communities, allowing more people to access cutting-edge treatments faster.

“Prevention is better than cure - these trials will help unlock the next generation of treatments, boost economic growth and build an NHS fit for the future.”

The funding is part of a wider £400 million joint public-private investment scheme - the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme. It is a unique partnership between the government and the pharmaceutical industry to boost the global competitiveness of the UK life science sector and stimulate economic growth. 

The health of the nation and health of the economy are inextricably linked; the new CRDCs will bolster the UK as a powerhouse for life sciences and med tech, driving economic growth.

The investment boost follows the Plan for Change unveiled by the Prime Minister last week, which sets out ambitious but achievable milestones for the Missions that will drive real improvements in the lives of working people.

As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, the government will shift care from treatment to prevention and this investment will support research into preventative vaccines and medicines, ultimately helping people live healthier lives for longer.

Legislation has today been laid that will transform clinical trials in the UK by speeding up trial approvals while protecting patient safety. It is the biggest overhaul of regulations in 20 years and will remove administrative red tape and streamline processes to get clinical trials up and running as quickly as possible. The changes are being introduced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Health Research Authority (HRA).

Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

“If we are to turn the latest advances in medical science into breakthrough treatments and therapeutics for patients, it is essential that leading businesses and private investment work in partnership with the NHS. This is especially important for clinical trials where the UK has a strong track record and can again become a leader.”

Richard Torbett, Chief Executive, The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), said:

“The injection of funds from industry into this programme is an excellent example of industry and government working in partnership to improve health and drive growth. We know that industry clinical trials bring enormous benefits to the UK economy, generate revenue for the NHS and lead to improved patient outcomes in research-active hospitals.

“The CRDCs are geared to support industry clinical trials across many different care settings in the four UK nations. We look forward to the network of new CRDCs working closely with industry to offer more patients across the UK the opportunity to participate in studies of the latest cutting-edge treatments.”

VPAG is a voluntary agreement between the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), designed to improve patient outcomes, manage the NHS medicines bill, and support the life sciences industry. Launched as part of the scheme, additional investment from pharmaceutical companies will support implementation of the investment programme.

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