Despite Brexit: Why innovation in pharma is an international phenomenon

Reece Armstrong writes about Brexit's impact on pharma one last time and looks ahead to CPhI Worldwide. 

With news that the UK government has banned exports on some 24 drugs to avoid shortages, patients are once again cast into uncertainty surrounding what will happen when the country finally leaves the EU come Halloween.

The news should at least be welcome to patients who depend on some of the potentially life-saving medicines, but the announcement – described as an ‘unprecedented move’ by the BBC – does little to stem worries over concerns about medicine shortages.

Industry leaders called for a temporary ban on drug exports earlier in March after they feared wholesalers would be more tempted to sell overseas if the pound dropped in value. With less than a month to go until the UK leaves the EU, the temporary ban now appears to be either desperate or a reckless shot in the dark to ensure no patients come to harm. Let’s hope the idiom of ‘better late than never’ holds up in this case.

Of course, medicine shortages do often occur, but the rhetoric surrounding Brexit and the UK’s preparedness for managing a potential ‘no-deal’ situation is comparable with verbal firefighting. Our government is so concerned with stemming any worry around leaving without a deal, that no one has any idea what’s going to happen – not least the Conservatives.

Here in the office we’re coming up to one of our busiest periods; jetting off to international tradeshows where industry players from all around the world meet to share ideas, network and do business – you know, all the typical jargon you’d expect from an industry event.

For the EPM team that tradeshow is CPhI Worldwide, the world’s biggest pharma event and one which I’m particularly looking forward to, even with the shadow of Brexit threatening international collaboration between the UK and EU members.

Despite Brexit, CPhI Worldwide is set to highlight the current world of pharma with all of its offerings, challenges and trends. With sessions on the latest innovative medicines, advances in continuous manufacturing and the rise in digital technologies, CPhI Worldwide offers so much across every sector of the pharma supply chain.

As editor, it will be my first time visiting the tradeshow and I’m excited to learn more about the industry from some of its biggest and brightest players. And whilst my return to the UK may be met with a raft of announcements about the downsides of Brexit to pharma, it won’t be the end of the world.

After all, innovation is a global phenomenon and advances in medicines, wherever they are made, ultimately benefit patients – and that’s what’s most important.