Skip to content

This Site is Intended for Healthcare Professionals Only

Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Vaccine trials among recipients of £20m Covid-19 investment

Six Covid-19 research projects, including two focused on vaccination trials, will be the first to benefit from a share of £20 million in government investment, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said on Monday (March 23).

Two government-backed projects will receive new funding, enabling pre-clinical and clinical vaccine trials, as well as supporting researchers to develop manufacturing processes to produce a vaccine at a million-dose scale.


Other projects receiving funding examine how existing treatments could be repurposed to treat coronavirus, developing antibodies to help target the virus, and examining how people at greatest risk of catching it could be identified.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "In the midst of a global health emergency the UK is using all its extensive research expertise to quickly develop new vaccines to target this international threat.

"This investment will speed up globally-recognised vaccine development capabilities and help us find a new defence against this disease."

Read More: UK begins trial of HIV medicine, steroid as possible COVID-19 treatments

Business Secretary Alok Sharma added: “Whether testing new drugs or examining how to repurpose existing ones, UK scientists and researchers have been working tirelessly on the development of treatments for coronavirus.

“The projects we are funding today will be vital in our work to support our valuable NHS and protect people’s lives.”

The latest announcement follows £30m of new government funding for the National Institute for Health Research to enable further rapid research into Covid-19, and an additional £10m to increase Public Health England’s ability to test people and monitor the virus, announced in the budget on March 11.

More For You

Community pharmacies falling behind on data security toolkit submissions

The last date for submission is 30 June 2025.

Pic credit: iStock

Community pharmacies falling behind on data security toolkit submissions

More than 50 per cent of the community pharmacies in England have failed to complete their Data Security and Protection Toolkit 2025 with the deadline in less than two weeks.

Necessary guidance regarding the toolkit has previously been provided by Community Pharmacy England (CPE) earlier.

Keep ReadingShow less
Digital guide launched to help patients with osteoporosis

In the UK, over three million people have osteoporosis.

Pic credit: iStock

Digital guide launched to help patients with osteoporosis

The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) has launched a free online service called BoneMed which is aimed to support patients with osteoporosis in taking their medicine and remove barriers to adherence.

After completing a five-minute online survey, patients will be emailed a summary of the medicine they have been prescribed and six further updates throughout the year on their medication.

Keep ReadingShow less
GPhC five-year plan to empower pharmacists, uphold public trust

GPhC's Strategic Plan 2025-30 will focus on empowering pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

iStock

GPhC five-year plan to empower pharmacists, uphold public trust

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) launched its new plan for the next five years to uphold safety, quality and public trust in pharmacy.

The regulatory body unveiled its Strategic Plan 2025-30 during a Parliamentary event attended by pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock on Wednesday (18).

Keep ReadingShow less
Glucose monitor and test strips on a blood sugar tracker sheet with lancets and pen device.

Medical device manufacturers will have to monitor the safety and performance of their products already in use.

iStock

Medical device regulation overhauled to improve patients' safety

Medical device manufacturers must now adhere to the UK's post-market surveillance (PMS) regulations.

The new rule came into effect on June 16, and manufacturers will have to monitor the safety and performance of their products already in use.

Keep ReadingShow less
Overseas-trained dentists forced to work in fast food joints, while NHS remains short-staffed

The NHS in England had 2,749 vacancies for dentists in 2023-24

iStock

Overseas-trained dentists forced to work in fast food joints, while NHS remains short-staffed

While people in the UK struggle to access dental care, many overseas-trained dentists spend months and years doing odd jobs like working in McDonald’s.

To work as dentists in the UK, they need to clear the Overseas Registration Examination, where the seats are so limited that even appearing for the exam is a huge challenge.

Keep ReadingShow less