Bern, 11 October 2016
International Summit of Heads of Medicines Regulatory Agencies opened in Interlaken: Swissmedic agrees on closer collaboration with UK partner agency
Federal Councillor Alain Berset opened the International Summit of Heads of Medicines Regulatory Agencies today in Interlaken. With around 75 agency representatives from 23 countries attending, the two-day summit is being held in Switzerland for the first time and organised by Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products.
The objective of the annual meeting of medicinal and therapeutic products authorities is to promote information sharing and improve networking among agencies. The topics on the agenda of the 11th Summit of Heads of Medicines Regulatory Agencies in Interlaken include regulatory transparency, as well as best practices in cooperation and dialogue with stakeholders.
On the sidelines of the summit, Swissmedic agreed to collaborate more closely with its UK partner agency. Dr Ian Hudson, Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and Swissmedic Executive Director Jürg H. Schnetzer signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday.
Both agencies view networking with partner authorities as a key instrument in addressing shared challenges, such as the globalisation of therapeutic products research and production, and the increasing complexity of scientific and technological developments.
The MoU establishes a foundation for reciprocal information exchange and for bilateral projects. It also provides a basis for intensified cooperation under multilateral initiatives.
Swissmedic's performance mandate requires it to improve international cooperation primarily with therapeutic products agencies in the EU and in countries of strategic interest to Switzerland. The MHRA is one of the biggest regulatory authorities in Europe and has an outstanding international network. It plays a leading role in the European Union in many areas of scientific review. Swissmedic therefore regards future collaboration with the MHRA as an important enhancement of the international network it has built up in recent years.