New ABPI chief Anson names organisation's priorities for sector
8 May 2017
Lisa Anson, the newly appointed president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), has set out three key priorities for her two-year tenure – including improving the sector’s reputation.
Anson, who is AstraZeneca’s UK president, said she would also focus on improving access to medicines and enabling the UK life sciences sector to thrive.
She formally took over from Amgen’s John Kearney towards the end of last month at the ABPI annual conference (see video below).
Anson said: “Our reputation is of vital importance to the future health of the nation, and productivity of the NHS and UK. While government, the NHS and patient groups all recognise the important steps taken in recent years to improve transparency in our sector, we must now build on that work.
“We should do much more to highlight the positive contributions of our industry. We must also be prepared to call out poor behaviour and separate ourselves from profiteering. This does irreparable damage to our reputation and the trust we want to promote.”
Alongside the ABPI, Anson has been tasked with helping shape the future of the life sciences sector outside of the EU, and working with government to develop a strategy that places the industry as a key strategic partner in the government's future economic plans, the association said.
ABPI chief executive Mike Thompson said: “Lisa will play a leading role as we negotiate the future of our industry outside of the European Union.”
