On 8 October 2024, the UK government launched the new Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), which aims to “reduce the burden of red tape” faced by businesses when bringing innovations to market, including artificial intelligence (AI) healthcare technologies and engineering biology products such as vaccines and cultivated meat.

The RIO, established within the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, will seek to reshape regulatory landscapes by working with existing regulators to accelerate approvals, bring regulations up to date and facilitate inter-regulator collaboration. The creation of the RIO is a key manifesto commitment, as part of the government’s wider mission to kickstart economic growth, aiming to provide regulatory certainty and reduce unnecessary delays.Continue Reading UK government launches new Regulatory Innovation Office to reduce red tape

On 20 March, the Commission proposed several measures intending to boost technology and biomanufacturing in the EU, including the Commission Communication Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU; and Questions & Answers on the Commission Communication.

The Communication, while directed towards the broader biotech sector, refers to the aim to have a resilient EU biotech ecosystem to safeguard the supply of innovative and generic medicines. It recognizes the significance of vaccine and mRNA technology research for cancer, cardiovascular infectious, and rare diseases, as well as the role of AI in personalized healthcare and diagnostics, including generative AI for medicines discovery and complex genetic diseases.

At the same time, it acknowledges the challenges found in the biotech sector in the EU due to complex regulatory obstacles both nationally and at EU level; or the uncertainty over the return of their investments. Continue Reading Commission Communication on biotechnology and biomanufacturing