Life Sciences and the Law

Propel 5 – launch of Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber accelerator

Propel@YH is a well-established digital accelerator programme for healthtech innovation in Yorkshire and Humber. As a founder sponsor, we were delighted to attend the launch event last month. Innovators will receive a six-month course of structured support from the scheme’s partners. 

AMR Innovation Programme launch

On Monday 30th October, Health Innovation Consortium, Barts Life Sciences, BLK Partners and Hill Dickinson launched a programme to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), a major global challenge. The programme will provide support to companies with innovative solutions to AMR, with the launch taking place at the Global Health conference in Riyadh. Professor Steve Field, GP and UK Special Healthcare Representative to Saudi Arabia, provided an overview of the UK Government’s efforts to tackle AMR with HIC’s Chief Partnerships Officer Suzie Ali-Hassan sharing the support offered through the programme. Applications for the programme are open from the 30th of October – 1st December 2023, to apply click here. 

Barts Life Sciences HealthTech Programme

Barts Life Sciences, in partnership with Queen Mary University of London, has launched a HealthTech Programme to support HealthTech SMEs registered or active in London, with the programme aiming to provide support and foster innovation for up to 200 SMEs. Participating SMEs will receive bespoke guidance via NHS Navigation Training, Masterclasses, and tailored 1-2-1 Advice Clinics. Hill Dickinson are pleased to be supporting and participating in this programme, working with Psephos Biomedica in providing training on regulatory issues.

Hill Dickinson’s Private Equity team advises NorthEdge on multi-million-pound investment into Antibody Analytics

Commercial law firm Hill Dickinson has advised private equity firm NorthEdge on its multi-million-pound investment into Antibody Analytics, a leading provider of immunology research services. Antibody Analytics is a contract research organisation (CRO) that provides services in the field of pre-clinical drug discovery to an international client base of biopharmaceutical companies. Read more

Hill Dickinson advises PAM Group on Irish wellbeing company acquisition

Law firm Hill Dickinson has advised the Warrington-based occupational health and wellbeing specialist PAM Group on the strategic acquisition of an Irish wellbeing business for an undisclosed sum. In the LDC-backed firm’s third acquisition of 2023, PAM Group has bought Corporate Health Ireland (CHI), a 100-strong wellbeing business that will allow it to expand its geographical footprint and support its target of reaching £80 million in turnover in the next few years; up from £45 million in 2022. Read more

Hill Dickinson advises Pitalia Capital on £12m online pharmacy investment

Commercial law firm Hill Dickinson has advised Pitalia Capital on a £12 million cash injection into online pharmacy Chemist4U. Chemist4U and bespoke weight management clinic myBMI form part of JCCO Healthcare with the backing set to “turbocharge” the businesses’ growth, according to chief executive James O’Loan. Chemist4U handles 190,000 orders a month and is expected to hit £29 million turnover in the 12 months to the end of September, with MyBMI on track to hit £10 million turnover in 2023/24. Read more

Hill Dickinson advises NHS primary healthcare provider on £8.25m investment

Law firm Hill Dickinson has advised physio and podiatry services provider Primary Care Physio Limited (PCP) on a multi-million investment designed to drive growth and, in doing so, help alleviate pressure on the NHS’s primary healthcare market. PCP was founded in 2020 by serial entrepreneurs Ryan Allen, Mohammed Nazir and Prof Gary Shuckford. It provides a fully managed first-contact musculoskeletal service to primary care networks (PCNs) in the UK and currently employs over 300 physiotherapists and podiatrists, freeing up GP capacity in the primary care sector. Read more

• 8 November – we are co-presenting a webinar with our partners Healthcare Innovation Consortium –on electronic patient record implementation: Simplifying ERP Implementation 
• 22 November – following the success of SEHTA 2023 MedTech-Expo we are co-presenting with Docobo on the current hot topic of virtual wards – Virtual Wards

£100 million to be invested in artificial intelligence for life sciences

The Government has announced plans to invest a further £100 million to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (‘AI’) in making breakthroughs in treatments for previously incurable diseases such as cancer and dementia. The Science Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “Safe, responsible AI will change the game for what it’s possible to do in healthcare, closing the gap between the discovery and application of innovative new therapies, diagnostic tools, and ways of working that will give clinicians more time with their patients.”

The announcement by the Prime Minister came ahead of the AI safety summit, held on Thursday 2 November 2023. More details can be read here. 

Linked to this, the MHRA has launched a new “AI-Airlock”, a new regulatory sandbox to assist in the development and deployment of software and AI medical devices, safely providing patients with earlier access to cutting edge innovations that improve care: MHRA to launch the AI-Airlock, a new regulatory sandbox for AI developers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

New IVF laws to benefit same-sex couples

The government has announced plans to introduce two significant changes to legislation which will assist same-sex couples undertaking IVF treatment.

Same-sex couples with non-transmissible HIV (ie where the level of HIV virus is low enough to not be detected by a test) will be able to undertake IVF treatment, including known sperm or egg cell donation to friends or relatives.

Female-same sex couples undertaking reciprocal IVF will also no longer be under the requirement to undergo screening for infectious diseases. The screening can cost up to £1,000 and is not required for heterosexual couples.  

It is currently unknown when the law will change but the government has stated that statutory amendments will be made as soon as possible. The press release can be read here.

New Guidance on the Innovative Devices Access Pathway pilot scheme

The Innovative Devices Access Pathway (IDAP) pilot is an initiative to bring new technologies and solutions to the NHS to help with medical needs that are not currently being met. The IDAP aims to improve patient access to innovative medical devices by providing an integrated and enhanced pathway for developers. The pilot will test the main elements of the pathway, with the aim of gathering feedback to further develop and improve the IDAP.

The IDAP is open to UK and international commercial and non-commercial developers with new health technology solutions. Successful applicants will receive non-financial support from a team of experts to develop a product specific Target Development Profile roadmap, which will outline product development. Companies of all sizes can apply, and the lead company can work with other companies or organisations. Further guidance on the IDAP pilot phase and applications can be found here. 

The new Windsor Framework Regulations

The UK and EU agreed the Windsor Framework, providing a fundamentally new set of arrangements to restore the smooth flow of trade within the UK internal market; safeguard Northern Ireland’s place in the Union; and address the democratic deficit that was otherwise at the heart of the original Northern Ireland Protocol. These arrangements were adopted at the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on 24 March 2023. 

The new Windsor Framework Regulations, titled the “Retail Movement Scheme”, sets out dedicated arrangements to support the critical flow of agrifood retail products into Northern Ireland, by removing unnecessary checks and complex certification requirements, and enabling goods made to UK public health standards to be moved. The regulations can be read in full here.

Scientists have grown a model of a human embryo, without using sperm, eggs or a womb

The Weizmann Institute team has created an “embryo model”, which is made using stem cells and is described by the team as the first complete embryo model for mimicking all the key structures that emerge in the early embryo. The team says that the embryo model is a textbook example of a human 14-day-old embryo. Instead of a sperm and egg, the starting material was naïve stem cells which were reprogrammed to gain the potential to become any type of tissue in the body. These embryo models can help scientists explain how different types of cells emerge, witness the earliest steps in building the body’s organs or understand inherited or genetic diseases. You can read the full article here.

MHRA announces three new approved bodies to certify medical devices

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has designated three new UK Approved Bodies, TUV SUD, Intertek, and TUV Rheinland UK, to join the four current UK Approved Bodies, almost doubling current capacity for the certification of medical devices in the UK. By almost doubling capacity for medical device assessment in the UK, more patients will be supported to access safe and effective products they need to protect their health. The Government’s press release detailing the new appointments can be found here.

Government to invest £30 million in innovative technology for the NHS 

Patients across the country will benefit from a £30 million government investment in innovative medical technology which will help ease pressures on the NHS this winter. Integrated Care Systems (ICS), organisations that come together in local areas to deliver joined up health and social care services, will be able to invest in the latest technology that can help cut waiting lists, speed up diagnosis and deliver new and improved ways to treat patients. ICSs could expand virtual wards, invest in wearable medical devices to aid patients at home, or invest in the latest imaging technology to bolster diagnostic tests.

ICSs will be able to submit bids to the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to access the funds so they can roll out the technology, with applications expected to open this month. The full news story can be found here.

£5.5 million Centre of Excellence announced to grow UK life sciences workforce

The Government has announced £5.5 million to establish a Medicines Manufacturing Skills Centre of Excellence, to boost UK’s ability to response to future health emergencies. The funding will boost the UK’s life sciences sector and ensure that it has the right talent to drive innovation. This funding forms part of the Chancellor’s £650 million “Life Sci for Growth” package that was announced in May. 

The center will build on existing infrastructure and best practice, and deliver sustainable, end-to-end training provision, all of which the industry needs to continue growing. A competition to allocate funding, led by Innovate UK, officially opened on 26 September. The Government’s press release announcing the funding can be read here.