The 3 Rs of Botanical Medicines: Research, Regulation and Revenues New Stream at Genesis 2009Thursday 10 December 2009 (9am - 6pm) Organised by London Biotechnology Network & Global Regulatory Services Chair:
Speakers :
Location: Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, London SW1P 3EE To register: With Research & Development pipelines at an all time low and many drugs going off patent in 2010 and 2011, pharmaceutical and biotech companies are actively revisiting the source of many of today’s drugs i.e. plants. A number of phytomedicinal start-ups are appearing and information about research into plants and plant-derived extracts can often be read in industry literature. Then, of course, there are Traditional Chinese Medicines and Ayurveda Remedies which have been used for thousands of years in China and India respectively. Couple this increased interest in botanicals with improved investigative technology, there are plenty of opportunities out there for companies to embrace with regards to both traditional herbal remedies and plant-derived medicinal products. The Positives: Opportunities are arising because of improvement in research techniques with the ability now to scrutinise a plant’s properties in far more detail resulting in a more in-depth understanding of a plant’s healing powers. Everywhere you look you see the words “organic” and “natural” so companies producing plant-derived medicinal products can tap into the public’s perception of “healthy”. Regulations are increasing but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can be used as an educational tool to train conventional clinicians on the benefits of herbal remedies; advocate their safety profile (especially when combined with standard medication); and offer patients more choice with regards to their treatment. Increasing regulation will also raise the bar in terms of quality throughout the product lifecycle from growth and harvest right through to final product and the end user. The Negatives: Some would argue, however, that new European regulations (i.e. the Traditional Herbal Medicines Registration Scheme) will be the demise of the herbal industry as companies will be unable to register their remedies in time for the April 2011 deadline. This is due to a number of reasons: lack of finance, lack of resource, lack of knowledge and an unwillingness to be linked with the Pharmaceutical Industry through association with the Health Authorities. It is already known that many herbal companies will close their doors when April 2011 arrives with owners looking for alternative revenue streams. This in turn could dramatically reduce the level of consumer choice and potentially result in a ‘select few’ having a monopoly on the market. This parallel session will provide delegates with an overview of what’s happening in the botanicals sector with examples from a selection of individuals already active in the market along with key considerations. Subjects to be discussed will include the European regulations, research, quality control, Intellectual Property and the experiences of an herbal medicine manufacturer. Programme: Thursday 10th December 2009
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