Freedom of Information request on funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (FOI 21-458)
Published 28 June 2021
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6th May 2021 FOI 21/458 Dear
Thank you for your email.
We do receive funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as other sources outside government such as WHO. This funding mainly supports work to strengthen regulatory systems in other countries.
The majority of our income comes from the pharmaceutical industry through fees. For example, all Marketing Authorisation applicants have to pay a fee. The licensing of medicines is an independent, scientific process which is overseen by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM).
The CHM is an independent body which advises on applications for marketing authorisations. This includes considering further representation against our provisional advice in respect of national applications; advises on the need for, and content of, risk management plans for new medicines; advises on the impact of new safety issues on the balance of risks and benefits of licensed medicines – e.g. adding warnings, restricting or suspending use of a medicine and advises the licensing authority on changes to legal status of marketing authorisations.
Please see the links below for further information. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-awarded-over-980000-for-collaboration-with-the-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation-and-the-world-health-organisation
The current level of grant funding received from the Gates Foundation amounts to approximately $3m. This covers a number of projects and the funding is spread across 3-4 financial years. We are an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care. Our Annual report (link below) contains information on page 9 regarding our funding. If you require more details about the level of Government Funding please refer to the financial statements in the Annual report.
(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/902328/MHRA_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2020.pdf)
No COVID-19 vaccine would be approved until it has demonstrated safety, quality and efficacy through a robust clinical trial programme, as determined by the MHRA, and unless the evidence supports its use.
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Yours sincerely
MHRA Customer Service Centre
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU