The President of the Italian Medicines Agency, Robert Nisticò, and the member of the AIFA Board of Directors and President of the Welfare Commission of the Lombardy Region, Emanuele Monti, went on an institutional mission to London, where they met the heads of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the UK medicine regulatory auhority. The initiative, promoted by the One Health Foundation, aimed to strengthen the dialogue between Italy and the United Kingdom in research, pharmaceutical innovation and public health.

“After Brexit, the UK highlighted the need to strengthen its international strategies. In this scenario, Italy remains a long-time and privileged partner”, said AIFA’s President Robert Nisticò. “Thanks to the solidity of its regulatory system and the dynamism of the life sciences sector, Italy can significantly contribute to building an even stronger and more innovative collaboration”. During the meeting, there was a shared desire to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Italian and English regulatory authorities by the end of the year to promote collaborations in clinical research, regulatory innovation, and drug assessment. Brexit has also led to the UK leaving the European Medicines Agency (EMA) network. However, this loss can also represent a new opportunity for bilateral cooperation, focusing on access to therapeutic innovation for the benefit of patients.

The mission also involved representatives of patient associations, highlighting the importance of a participatory and person-centred approach, in line with the principles of the One Health vision. This was also an opportunity to share the issues with the diplomatic minister Riccardo Smimmo at the Italian Embassy in London.