IMI Shelter
Europe's Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) launched eight new projects with a total budget of EUR 172 million ($240.7 million) under a five-year, EUR 2 billion program to relieve bottlenecks in drug discovery and development. The projects are focused on cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and infectious disease.
In 2009, IMI awarded EUR 246 million to 15 projects involved in improving safety prediction and pharmacovigilance; improving prediction of efficacy in diabetes and brain and respiratory disorders; and education and training in support of medicines development.
A third call for project proposals is under way and will focus on developing treatments for autism, tuberculosis and diabetes, as well as drug and vaccine safety. IMI is a joint undertaking by the EC and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) that is similar to FDA's Critical Path initiative.
NICE News
While we do not always agree with him, we are pleased to share the news that our friend and colleague Sir Michael Rawlins has been reappointed Chairman of NICE for an additional one-year term. Rawlins, whose new term runs through March 31, 2012, has served as chairman since the agency was established in 1999.
