Bon voyage to the European Medicines Agency

It’s no surprise of course, but it still feels rather sudden...

As the European Medicines Agency draws its curtains on the UK and the first real blood of Brexit is drawn, one has to fight the image of tumbleweed blowing through the scientific future of the country. Currently based in London, the EMA is seen as one of the EU’s most important agencies and issues approvals for medicines across the union. In less than 18 months it’ll be doing so from its new home in Amsterdam.

The immediate loss of 900 jobs is one thing, but there is a more troubling longer-term issue. And the clue to what that is comes in the scramble seen when the relocation was up for tender. 19 cities across the EU went through an extensive bidding process to win the spoils – compare that with just 8 who bid on the European Banking Authority then it becomes clear this was a very tempting prize indeed. EMA Executive Director Professor Guido Rasi was clearly taken aback by the fuss: “My staff and I are very honoured that so many Member States showed an interest in hosting EMA.”

What the good Professor chose not to mention was the fact that hosting the EMA holds the keys to the European medical industry. Keys we previously held. Whoever hosts the EMA has the promise of building a real and tangible hub for Europe’s medical industry – conservatively valued at 220 billion Euros. That is a lot of science, scientists and money. And while that industry is dispersed across the EU, having the regulator in your front yard really can’t hurt can it?

Quite a prize...

This explains the scramble, and is presumably why the Department for Exiting the European Union claimed the future of the agency would be ‘subject to the Brexit negotiations’. They were wrong – or lied. In the time taken for David Davis to climb into his controversially acquired RAF aircraft, bids were submitted, voting took place, and straws were pulled from hats (…yup, it really did come down to that). Europe is, apparently, just getting on with things.

So, not only have we lost the right to host the EMA, but its regulations, rulings and support will no longer extend to us post-brexit. Like so many other scientific and technical endeavours where collaboration is important, the regulation of medicines is desperately in need of clarification. Just what is the plan? Oh please say there is a plan…

This EU-exit process was always going to be exceptionally risky for science. Frankly we gained a lot from the EU, and not just financially. The rate at which science progresses is inextricably linked to our ability to share insights and collaborate. Movement of people, communication and regulatory issues are all... well, just easier when part of a large collective.

As one union ends...

As the fallout continues from the loss of one collaborative project, it brings me real joy to be able to announce the birth of another. Laboratory News has a proud new owner. Synthesis Media – many of you will know them as they also run Lab Talk – have taken up the reigns, so look out for some exciting developments in the near future.

 Phil Prime, Managing Editor of Laboratory News