Pfizer’s Brian Henry appointed head of UK medicines manufacturing partnership

Brian Henry, Global Head of Drug Product Design at Pfizer is the new Chair of the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership (MMIP), a body representing the voice of medicines manufacturing in the UK.

The MMIP is an Expert Group of the Life Sciences Council, the UK’s most senior life sciences governance body, and is jointly managed by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the BioIndustry Association (BIA) and the Office for Life Sciences (OLS). It aims to help make the UK an attractive place for industry investment in manufacturing, to boost UK exports, provide highly skilled jobs and contribute to the economy.

Dr Stephen Ward, Chief Manufacturing Officer of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, has been appointed Vice-Chair. This represents the membership of the MMIP from large pharmaceuticals to SMEs.

The appointments come as Andy Evans of AstraZeneca steps down following 6 years as Chair.

Reflecting on the successes of the MMIP so far, Andy Evans said:

“It’s been a privilege to work with a wide range of industry colleagues in this Partnership, which has successfully made the case to the Government to provide more support for UK medicines manufacturing and skills, including the recent manufacturing grants scheme.

“The pandemic saw an unprecedented level of collaboration between the manufacturing sector and the UK Government, to make sure the vital medicines people needed continued to get where they were needed. This is now leading to opportunities for further investment and growth in the UK. 

“As the new Chair of MMIP Brian will build on these advances.”

Taking on the role, new MMIP Chair Brian Henry said:

“I’m pleased to be taking on this role at a time when our industry has a key role to play in helping the UK recover from COVID.

“The UK’s attractiveness as a place for companies to invest in manufacturing is growing, thanks to our partnership’s work on the skills agenda, helping develop targeted government incentives and technology investments. 

 “I want to help make sure that the UK becomes a superpower in both science and medicines manufacturing, and that our partnership drives opportunities to increase investment in high value jobs to all regions and countries of the UK.”

ENDS