Here at PMLiVE we began this year anticipating a year of change for pharma and, sure enough, we end the year knowing where the EMA is headed.

But, despite its impending Amsterdam move, 2017 has provided pharma with more questions than answers when it come to Brexit.

That’s particularly true if we try to guess the future shape of UK-EU pharma regulatory relations and the MHRA’s post-Brexit role.

The MHRA could only tell me it is working closely with the government. “We are clear, as is the government, on our desire to retain a close working partnership in respect of medicines regulation after the UK leaves the EU,” a spokesperson said.

“As part of the exit negotiations the UK will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation in the best interests of business, citizens and patients in both the UK and the EU.”

So, that’s clear then... perhaps.

At least the first phase of the negotiations will no longer hold up the vital next stage of the process.

But even when phase two kicks off in the new year, there are major questions to be faced about customs arrangements and trade deals, in addition to medicines regulations.

For now all that we can hope for is that these games with our frontiers will be played properly in 2018.