British drugs manufacturers may stockpile medicines in European warehouses as a precaution against a hard Brexit.
Drugs made in the UK may have to be tested again once they leave British shores, should the government fail to strike a deal covering pharmaceutical testing. Such an impasse could delay the supply of British medications to countries in Europe.
Drug makers are busy working on contingency plans, which would have to be enacted long before Britain quits the EU in March 2019. These could include providing a buffer by building up supplies in their biggest European markets.
Jo Pisani, who leads the pharmaceuticals and life sciences consultancy at PwC, confirmed companies were considering such action.
“What they would begin to do is more production runs,” she said. “They would probably do this in the latter part of 2018.”
Ministers have sought to reassure drug makers and biotech firms by calling for continued co-operation with Brussels over medicines regulation after Brexit.
Jeremy Hunt, health secretary, and business secretary Greg Clark have outlined how Britain and the EU could work together.
Pharma and biotech companies want a deal with the European Medicines Agency after Brexit. The agency will move from London but the industry is hoping for mutual recognition of medicine approvals. However, this could take time to negotiate.
“Companies may need to act ahead of a final deal,” said Virginia Acha of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
“Plans around moving regulatory activities and managing supply — including stockpiling — will certainly be under consideration by our members.”
