The warning from Health Secretary Matt Hancock will be one of the main issues in a general election, if MPs agree to vote for one tomorrow. It comes just days after Mr Hancock negotiated a deal to give cystic fibrosis sufferers access to the super-drug Orkambi following a lengthy battle with US pharmaceutical firm Vertex over costs. The deal – which was struck after an Express crusade – could potentially add decades to the life expectancy of many CF sufferers.
Writing in the Sunday Express today, Mr Hancock says that Thursday’s deal with Vertex was “the proudest moment” of his career so far.
However, he warns that Mr Corbyn’s plans to nationalise the life science sector – in which medical research and production take place – would lead to disaster.
The Labour leader is also keen to seize control of medical patents, but Mr Hancock says the “unnecessary” move would make many medicines unaffordable and destroy research into new drugs – currently one of Britain’s fastest-growing industries.
He says: “Jeremy Corbyn’s plans to nationalise the life sciences industry and seize patent rights would send a hugely negative signal to scientists and discourage research and innovation.
“Ultimately, this risks the system for developing medicines we have today – and the biggest impact would be on patients.”
Mr Corbyn revealed his nationalisation plans at the Labour conference and claimed they would bring “medicines for the many”.
He told how nationalising research and the production of drugs would “save money in the health service and save lives at the same time”.
Mr Corbyn added: “Labour will redesign the system to serve public health, not private wealth, using compulsory licensing to secure generic versions of patented medicines.”
