in the Finnish chemical industry - Kemia-lehti

Pharmaceutical industrylooking forNew innovationsand investmentsNew medicines have revolutionised the treatment ofmany diseases, but there is still a great need for newinnovations. Finland wants to get back on track andhave its fair share in attracting investments and hostinginnovations and clinical research.Mia BengtströmIn Finland, investments into medicineR&D have traditionally been 200–250million euros annually, in addition to thefree study medication worth 70 millioneuros. R&D has also been of majorimportance for employment.Finland invests considerably inacademic, health-related basic research.Finnish scientists and health careproviders are highly regarded internationally(Figure 1). Still, when thetime comes to cash in on the innovationprofits, Finland has a lot to learn. Despiteproblems with commercialisation thereare several success stories from the past20 years.During the last few years, there havebeen a lot of activities related to innovation.In 2009 an Academy of Finland reportlisted what kinds of measures are requiredto improve biomedical and clinicalresearch.The recommendations of the Academyinclude, among other things, a radicaloverhaul of the clinical research careerlife cycle, increase and stabilisation offunding for clinical research, reductionof the tension between clinical researchand clinical practise, minimisationof bureaucracy and sustainability ofresearch performance, management, andthe supporting infrastructure.These recommendations have notbeen implemented, however, and theattractiveness of research is still declining.The investigators have too little time andincentives for research. This might affectthe wellbeing of patients with diseaseswith no available treatment. Eventually,the standard care and development oftreatments will also be affected.Good collaborationrequiredTwo additional reports on researchenvironment were published in 2012;one by Ramboll Management and theother commissioned by the Ministry ofEmployment and the Economy. Bothreports make valuable recommendationson what needs to be done to improve theattractiveness of Finland for investmentsin innovations and clinical research.In order to establish a functionalresearch ecosystem for medicines, agood collaboration between the threerelevant Ministries, namely the Ministryof Social Affairs and Health, the Ministryof Employment and the Economy, andthe Ministry of Education and Culture,is required. A strong commitment toimprove the innovation infrastructure,legislation, and financing of research isrequired as a strategic statement.Pharma Industry Finland (PIF) isestablishing an Advisory Board onPharmaceutical Research in order tofacilitate close collaboration betweenall stakeholders in medicine researchOrionThe anti-Parkinson'sdrug entacapone andMirena intrauterinecontraceptive belong toFinnish pharmaceuticalinnovations developedby Orion.46 KEMIA 5/2013