Over 40 years of Ipsen in the UK: resilience and leadership in the life sciences sector

Since Ipsen arrived in the UK in 1981, we have sought to build on our legacy of improving outcomes for people living with diseases in areas of high unmet need. Over that period, the UK life sciences sector has undergone profound changes and today, the sector faces unique challenges that influence the environment in which we operate.

Given my transition into the role as UK and Ireland’s General Manager in March, it is an opportune moment to reflect on Ipsen’s journey in the UK, and our unwavering commitment to advancing the UK life sciences sector. We have evolved the way we work, adapting and innovating to meet these new demands, while holding true to our commitment to deliver for patients and society. The UK now forms a vital part of our global operations and is a key hub from where we export medicines to over 90 countries worldwide.

Ipsen’s commitment focuses on three key areas that aim to improve the UK’s standing as a life sciences powerhouse: a truly bench-to-bedside approach; a patient-first philosophy and driving change sustainably.

Our bench-to-bedside approach drives our focus on clinical trials, partnering with the NHS and research institutions to ensure robust, ethical and efficient access to treatments that can improve patient outcomes. These partnerships between industry, the NHS and patient groups are crucial to maintaining the UK’s leadership and global competitiveness in life sciences and Ipsen is actively involved in this.

I am personally committed to ensuring Ipsen lives and breathes a patient-first philosophy. Developing treatments that improve health outcomes and quality of life for underserved patient populations is at the core of what we do. Through our close collaborations with patient groups, we ensure that patient voices are part of our innovation process from the very beginning.

As a global company, we’re also increasingly aware of the impact we have, not just on patients, but on the planet too. Our Generation Ipsen initiative is our commitment to driving positive action to help shape a better and healthier world. We’re supporting the UK Government’s net zero goals and have made several changes to the way we operate across the UK, particularly at our neuroscience centre of excellence and manufacturing site in Wrexham, which now uses 100% renewable energy. Over the last two years, Ipsen has invested over £100m in the Wrexham site, bolstering our manufacturing capabilities while simultaneously reducing carbon output.

The life sciences sector faces critical challenges. Clinical trials have declined, and the regulatory and medicines access environment has become tougher. The UK has experienced a significant decline in its global share of new medicine launches and UK patients are currently less likely to get access to innovative medicines compared to other EU countries. These factors mean the UK is less attractive for investment in life sciences, posing a risk to our ability to deliver on our commitments.

The new Government has shown it’s ready to address these issues head-on, framing life sciences as a key, high-growth sector through its Industrial Strategy Green Paper and supplying much-needed funding injections for research and development. The Government’s 10-Year Plan for NHS reform also reflects ambitions for comprehensive health system reform, necessary to strengthen the UK’s standing as a leader in life sciences. Ipsen remains fully committed to partnering with the Government to realise these goals, helping to ensure a sustainable and thriving future for life sciences in the UK.

Ipsen in the UK looks a whole lot different from how it did in its foundational years in the 1980s, but our ethos and drive remain the same. As we look to the future as an organisation, our commitment to contributing to the growth of the UK has never been stronger.

I took on the role of General Manager of Ipsen UK and Ireland with a clear vision: to drive innovation; foster partnerships and ensure that the UK remains a leading destination for life sciences. Our recent investment in a new global hub in Paddington, London further cements Ipsen’s commitment to the UK and reaffirms our place as a key player in an exciting time for the sector. The new Government is looking to sow the seeds of innovative, sustainable economic growth. However, achieving this growth will require collaboration and partnership on both sides. We are confident that by continuing to work closely with the Government, regulators and industry partners, Ipsen will help to shape the future of healthcare and life sciences in the UK and globally. Our journey over the past 40 years is just the beginning.

EXT-UK-000194
December 2024