ABPI warns, UK patients may not benefit from innovation

UK researchers are engaged in the R&D of nearly a fifth of the world's potential new medicines for diseases that cause breathing difficulties, according to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. However, the ABPI is concerned that many of these medicines might not be made available to British patients, despite the leading role that the country's scientists are playing in their development.

Of 262 medicines in development worldwide, according to the ABPI's analysis, 49, or 19%, are to tackle diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Many of these candidates, however, will ultimately fail to reach the market. The ABPI notes that the record of the UK's National Health Service, especially in England and Wales, at providing new drugs is poor by European standards (Marketletters passim).

Richard Barker, director general of the ABPI, said: "these figures show that British scientists are in the forefront of the fight against breathing disorders, but we are increasingly worried that the advances represented by many of these innovative medicines will not benefit UK patients." He added: "at the moment, the need for medicines to prove cost-effectiveness - based on overly-narrow criteria - is preventing many such medicines from reaching patients. It is a major disincentive to companies and other organizations to continue to research medicines if they are not to be utilized fully."