Fate of EU drugs agency hangs in Brexit balance

Grant Castle and Robin Blaney are quoted in this Politico article discussing the potential impact of “Brexit” on the pharmaceutical sector in the UK and Europe. According to Castle, the “only rational alternative” to EU membership is for the U.K. to become a member of the European Economic Area, as this arrangement would make it so the practical and operational impact “may not be that significant” on pharmaceutical and biotech companies. 

More broadly on health policy, an EU exit, even if it remains in the economic area, would see the loss of British influence in Europe’s institutions, says Blaney. “It will become a less significant participant in EU regulatory procedures.”