We are thrilled to announce that our Group CEO, Bob Stevens, is one of the eight leaders from across the patient and health charity sector to have been named to the ABPI’s (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry) new Patient Advisory Council.
The ABPI exists to make the UK the best place in the world to research, develop and use new medicines. We represent companies of all sizes who invest in discovering the medicines of the future.
We hope that the Council will ensure a more patient-centric future strategy for those with MPS, Fabry and related conditions and make sure that they are put at the forefront of what we do. A key aspect of our vision is to ensure that families receive the fastest possible diagnosis and we hope that through the leader's combined knowledge of patient experience, the new Council will help to improve the lives of patients and their families.
Please read the ABPI’s press release below.
In a search that commenced in June, the new Council will bring together industry and patient advocates to help steer and broaden the Association’s strategic thinking, ensuring a more patient-centric future strategy, policy, and priorities.
The new members are:
Charlotte Augst from National Voices, Emily Crossley from Duchenne UK, Jane Lyons from Cancer52, Dr Tom Nutt from Meningitis Now, Hilary Reynolds from the Association of Medical Research Charities, Jayne Spink from Prostate Cancer Research, Bob Stevens from the MPS Society, and Neil Tester from the Richmond Group.
The Patient Advisory Council members will join the ABPI’s Board meeting today (7 September) for the first time.
Announcing the first members of the Council, Colette Goldrick, Executive Director of Strategy, Research & Partnerships at the ABPI, said:
“We have had an overwhelming response to our search for a new Patient Advisory Council, and we are really proud to name these eight passionate experts as our inaugural members. Each is a leader in their community, and we are really looking forward to hearing what they have to say and how we can work together towards meaningful change.”
Ben Osborn, President of the ABPI, said:
“The Council was formed with the sole purpose of ensuring the Association, our Board and the industry at large has a greater understanding of the patient experience, and how our work can help improve the lives of patients and their families. We’re excited to get started.”
Council members will provide patient perspectives across policy topics relevant to both industry and patients, such as outcomes-focused healthcare, medicines pricing, patient engagement in health technology assessment (HTA), healthcare data, and collaboration.
Bob Stevens said:
“Having two sons diagnosed with a rare disease changes your perspective and priorities in life. I started my career in the charity sector because I wanted to bring together my family experiences of a ‘rare life lived’ and commercial attributes to improve the lives of those most marginalised in society and help create a more sustainable financial future for patient organisations both in the UK and globally.
“I want to use my role on the Patient Advisory Council to continue working as a patient representative for MPS.”
To find out more about the other leaders in the Patient Advisory Council, please click here.
More information
Keep an eye on the Advisory Council section of the ABPI website to stay updated about the plans for the future.