Projects driving drug innovation given funding boost
The money will support 17 projects across three fields.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Seventeen projects across the UK that are focused on innovative medicine manufacturing and drug discovery have been awarded a share of £13 million.
It is hoped the money from Innovate UK will help drive digitalisation in the sector as well as boost the economy.
They will be delivered via the organisation’s Transforming Medicines Manufacturing programme, which aims to bolster the UK’s manufacturing capabilities through technology development and adoption.
Some £10 million of the total funding was awarded by the Government’s Life Sci for Growth package, a £650 million fund announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in May to elevate the country’s life sciences industry.
This underscores our ambitious vision to de-risk technology, boost economic growth, build resilience into the UK healthcare ecosystem and ultimately to make the UK a centre of excellence in medicines manufacturing innovation
The new projects span three fields; digitalisation and automation, the exploration of nucleic acid, and intracellular drug delivery, or the process of introducing external materials into living cells.
A number of the projects involve the production of MRNA vaccines, with research ongoing to make them better and cheaper while reducing the costs of making them.
Sarah Goulding, executive director of healthy living and agriculture domain at Innovate UK, said: “There is a real breadth of innovation and collaboration across businesses being funded through Innovate UK’s Transforming Medicines Manufacturing programme.
“This underscores our ambitious vision to de-risk technology, boost economic growth, build resilience into the UK healthcare ecosystem and ultimately to make the UK a centre of excellence in medicines manufacturing innovation.”
Elsewhere, a number of projects will focus on cell and gene therapy while others will look at new freeze-drying processes.
Mark Talford, deputy challenge director in medicines manufacturing at Innovate UK, added: “This support for collaboration across the UK medicines manufacturing landscape to develop innovative nucleic acid medicines will drive forward digitalisation and automation technology.”