Key issues
The core role of a successful off-patent sector is to get the right medicines at the right time to the right patients to improve quality of life. This work also stimulates the originator sector to continue research-based activity, which results in new and improved medicines for patients. There are a number of issues important to our members, on which we engage with a range of stakeholders from parliamentary representatives and government departments through to NHS England, the MHRA and the EU.
Overview
Generic and biosimilar manufacturers and suppliers have freedom of pricing in the UK, with the government relying on competition to keep prices low.
The UK approach is different to other countries across the world but has been very successful in maintaining supply to the NHS and constraining prices.
The government only intervenes in pricing if competition can be seen not to be working. Our competitive system has led to a vibrant multi-source market, minimising the scope for shortages and delivering the lowest prices in Europe.
Off-patent competition
When a drug becomes off-patent, competition from generic and biosimilar manufacturers is a very efficient way of driving down prices and increasing savings potential for the NHS.
It is also a good way to deliver innovation through offering competition to patent-expired brands. However, various barriers can prevent generic competition. As an industry, we face risks to our ability to launch at patent expiry due to activities of the originator sector, some of which may be characterised as unfair competition.
Our role at Medicines UK is to champion our sector and ensure a fair and sustainable operating environment exists.
The UK market
Following the UK's departure from the EU, companies overseeing domestic supply chains must now compete for global allocations of limited supplies of medicines. This means the operating and commercial environment needs to be attractive for companies to consider the UK as a priority market.
This is an important area of our advocacy with stakeholder partners, as policy can have a significant impact on the commercial viability of a supply market.
