Public-private funding to accelerate UK biopharmaceutical drug development

New research funding announced by the Bioprocessing Research Industry Club, a public-private collaboration between two research councils and the UK biopharmaceutical community, will help eliminate processing bottlenecks that are slowing new biopharmaceutical R&D. As a result, L3.5 million ($7.1 million) will be made available to researchers at seven UK universities. The new funding is targeted at developing faster and more efficient R&D and manufacturing techniques.

Biopharmaceuticals account for 30% of drugs currently in development, and 10% of the present UK market, the BRIC notes. Current biopharmaceutical treatments include the use of therapeutic proteins to manage conditions associated with hormone deficiencies or various cancers (eg, breast, colon, prostate or pancreas). In the future, these treatments may also be able to help with organ and tissue deficiencies or disease conditions associated with aging. The projects funded by the BRIC aim to improve the bioprocessing techniques and systems that underpin biopharmaceutical development and production.

This is the second round of funding awarded by the BRIC - a funding collaboration between the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the biopharmaceutical industry, with support from bioProcessUK. Funding has been awarded to eight research teams at seven universities: the Universities of Birmingham, Imperial College London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and Strathclyde.