ABPI names new president to advance medicines

A new president of the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has been named to help bring new medicines to patients faster.

Haseeb Ahmad, managing director, UK, Ireland & Nordics Novartis Pharmaceuticals and country president Novartis UK has been confirmed as the ABPI’s new president. Ahmad will focus on the opportunities being presented by science, technology and data to help bring in new medicines.

To help do this, Ahmad will prioritise on promoting innovation and collaboration with the NHS and the government in the hop of improving outcomes for patients but also boosting the UK economy.

The ABPI has also appointed Hugo Fry, Sanofi’s UK managing director as vice president, who will lead on overseeing both the ABPI, the ABPI Board and the ABPI’s Code of Practice.

Haseeb Ahamad, president of the ABPI, said: “We are in a golden era of medicines discovery, where innovative science is converging with a data and digital revolution. These forces are coming together to treat and potentially cure diseases on a scale the likes of which we’ve not seen before.

“The pharmaceutical industry, Government and the NHS must work together to ensure that patients can access innovative therapies and that we deliver the kind of healthcare that all of us in the UK deserve.”

Hugo Fry, vice-president of the ABPI, said: “The UK is currently a hotbed for medical innovation, with discoveries that have a huge impact for people and patients all across the world.

“In the current Brexit environment it is more important than ever to collaborate across government, businesses and academia to ensure that the UK can maintain its position as a leader in world class research and development.”

Welcoming the appointments, Mike Thompson, chief executive of the ABPI, said: “I am delighted to welcome both Haseeb and Hugo to their new respective new roles. They bring a wealth of experience to the ABPI, which will be invaluable as we look to make the most of the challenges and opportunities facing our sector.”