U.K. won't name new Minister of Life Sciences

The U.K.'s Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will not fill its vacant Minister of Life Sciences position, a spokesperson told BioCentury. MP George Freeman, a former biotech VC and the first-ever Minister for Life Sciences, left the position last month to become chair of the Prime Minister's Policy Board (see BioCentury Extra, July 18).

The Office of Life Sciences (OLS) will continue to exist as a joint unit across the Department of Health and BEIS, the spokesperson said. Freeman's responsibilities will be shared by Lord Prior of Brampton on the Department of Health side, and by MP Jo Johnson at BEIS. ...