Medicine: Experimental Drugs

Lord Campbell-Savours Excerpts

Monday 10th June 2013 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

I do agree. There are two reasons to press on with it: the first is the benefit to patients, as my noble friend rightly emphasises; and the other is the benefit to UK plc if we can get more investment in research in this country.

[Lord Campbell-Savours]

The Question refers to waiving the right to sue pharmaceutical companies. What is the Minister’s response to that?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, there is no need to think in those terms. There are many routes by which patients can access medicines lawfully and maintain their legal rights. We want to make sure that ethics and patient protection continue to be at the forefront of drug development. It would be wrong to give an indication to drug companies that they can throw caution to the winds in that sense.