Pfizer’s Emms takes up ABPI presidency

Pfizer's UK managing director Jonathan Emms has taken up the role of president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

Emms (pictured right) was elected to the position at the pharma industry body in December 2013 and will now serve for one year with the option of standing for re-election.

He takes over from MSD's Deepak Khanna who spent two years as president, working alongside CEO Stephen Whitehead to improve the image of the industry in the UK and represent its companies in issues such as the value-based pricing debate and the implementation of a new NHS commissioning system in England.

Emms is no stranger to these issues, having served on the ABPI board and taken part in the negotiations over the future of drug pricing in the UK.

He has not been afraid to criticise the outcomes of these discussions too, saying in November that the revised drug pricing scheme announced by the Department of Health was a “missed opportunity for British patients, the UK economy and industry”.

These concerns about access to new medicines were reiterated by Emms in a statement on what he hopes to achieve in his new role.

“High barriers to getting innovative medicines to patients and low and slow usage across the NHS means we risk falling behind our European neighbours. As president, I want to tackle the challenges head on and work together – industry, government and NHS – to make change happen.”