Making sure NHS patients get access to the most innovative and cost-effective drugs, diagnostics and devices is one of my central missions as the UK's first ever Minister for Life Sciences.

 

That's why today I am launching a review of the pathways for the development, assessment, and adoption of innovative medicines and medical technology to get medical innovations to patients much faster. I want to ensure that patients up and down the country can get access to new cost-effective innovations as soon as possible. By revolutionising the way in which we look at getting medicines and devices into the NHS we will make sure that the UK is the best place in the world for 21st Century medical innovation. I am delighted that it has already received strong support, especially from the Times in their leader column saying that the initiative meets 'the demands of patients and of common sense'.

 

It currently takes on average over a decade and can cost £1billion to develop a new drug - from the early pre-clinical research through Phase I, II, III trials, regulatory and NICE approval before drugs are available for patients. A fresh approach, made possible by ground-breaking developments in genomics and digital technology, could shave years off of the development of new medicines, devices and diagnostics and will also stimulate new investment and jobs and create a stronger NHS.

 

The review will examine how precision medicine and digital health technology could enable 21st century products to be bought from the lab to patients and their families as quickly and safely as possible and used within the NHS.

 

Today I can also announce new data that shows £3.5bn of private sector investment and the creation of 11,000 jobs in our Life Sciences industry since the launch of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy in 2011. Such data confirms that NHS leadership in medical 'life' science is attracting new investment into our medical research sector: generating the health and wealth we need to be a modern economy.

 

As the UK's first ever Minister for Life Sciences, I believe that by revolutionising the way in which we look at getting medicines and devices into the NHS we will make sure that the UK is the best place in the world for 21st Century medical innovation.