George Freeman Departure Leaves UK Life Sciences Holding Its Breath

Theresa May has re-structured the Department of Health ministerial team as part of her wide-ranging reshuffle and in so doing moved life sciences minister George Freeman over to chair the prime minister’s policy board. The British biopharma community says it hopes he will be replaced – and soon.

George Freeman

George Freeman, who had held the role spanning both the Department of Health and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills since 2014, has moved up into a key position within the new UK government, to chair the Prime Minister’s Policy Board. His elevation is already being felt by the country's life sciences community which is bracing for huge change and uncertainty after the June 23 referendum's surprise vote to leave the European Union.

Freeman’s portfolio as undersecretary included the government's controversial Cancer Drugs Fund, the National Health Service's digital drive, genomics, life sciences industrial strategy, and pursuing the uptake of new drugs and...

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