Government minister visits IQVIA after commitment in life sciences deal

The minister for trade and export promotion Baroness Rona Fairhead visited IQVIA’s London office following the Second Life Sciences Sector Deal announced by the government.

As part of the Second Life Sciences Sector Deal refresh, IQVIA has committed to opening a fourth UK Prime Site to focus on the delivery of clinical research across the North of England which includes investing up to £24m over five years with plans to employ over 50 additional staff to drive additional trials across the UK. The Northern Prime Site will include NHS research-ready hospitals across the Greater Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield region. The new site will embrace a data-enabled approach to the design and delivery of hundreds of additional clinical trials and real-world evidence studies which will benefit thousands of NHS patients. IQVIA currently conducts 25% of all commercial clinical trials in the NHS.

In addition, IQVIA will invest £20m over five years in a new partnership with Genomics England to develop services to allow authorised researchers to run studies aiming to enable faster and more efficient drug research.

Speaking after her visit Baroness Fairhead said: “IQVIA are a great example of a global company who are making the most of the fantastic environment for life sciences companies in the UK.

“Our higher education system and the access to world leading research and development facilities in the UK mean that companies have the ability to make innovative advancements that can change the lives of millions of people.

“I would encourage all businesses to make the most of the measures in the Government’s Life Sciences Sector Deal, as well as the offer set out in our Export Strategy as they look to expand their overseas operations.”

The Second Life Sciences Sector Deal is the extension of a previous set of deals announced alongside the UK’s Industrial Strategy in November 2017. Each deal represents a new strategic and long-term partnership with Government, backed by private sector co-investment.

Tim Sheppard, senior vice president and general manager, Northern Europe IQVIA, said: “This is a landmark investment for IQVIA, but crucially one which will deliver help for patients across the UK, and trade benefits for the UK across the world.

“IQVIA believes in the UK’s potential to be a unique bioscience centre of excellence in life sciences, and this investment further supports the UK Government and the industry’s aim to ensure this potential is realised. That centre of excellence status provides the opportunity to cement and extend our industry’s global leadership, developing a life sciences sector that can be truly world-leading. Vitally, this is also a platform from which we can build even greater sector momentum behind the overall UK Industrial Strategy.”