Cees Veerman committee recommends continuation of TI Pharma in its present form

Jan 27 2010

Top Institute Pharma (TI Pharma) enables unique public-private collaborations that are extremely valuable for pharmaceutical research in the Netherlands. This can be read in the Midterm Review (MTR) of the Top Institute, which was published today. In the report, an independent committee chaired by Cees Veerman concludes that TI Pharma is well on its way to achieving the objectives that were determined at the time of its establishment. The institute addresses issues with marked social relevance, attracts international investments and has brought forth a group of quality researchers. The committee unanimously recommends that TI Pharma should be continued in its present form.

Today, Kees van Lede, one of the members of the MTR committee, presented the report to Minister Ab Klink of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). In the report, the committee expresses a favorable view of TI Pharma, which was established in 2006 and received government funding for a period of four years. Every euro invested was matched by the science sector and the private sector.

Van Lede: "As TI Pharma creates actual value, it constitutes a sensible investment - one that furthermore offers a high degree of leverage. The institute attracts many international investments, as the recent commitment of EUR 53 million made by private parties illustrates. In part thanks to TI Pharma, the Netherlands can compete with superstructures like Cambridge in the UK, the Bay Area in the US and Singapore."

TI Pharma has set up an excellent research infrastructure over the past two years. Universities, research institutes and larger and smaller pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical firms work closely together to enable the better, speedier and cheaper development of valuable medicines. The chairman of the MTR committee, Cees Veerman, states: "The Midterm Review proves that with its excellent project portfolio, TI Pharma makes a valuable contribution to the knowledge infrastructure in the Netherlands. The independent position that TI Pharma occupies ensures that it can play an essential role in the translation of scientific knowledge into economic and social value."

Both the Management Team and the Executive Board of TI Pharma feel encouraged by the conclusions of the MTR and by the recommendations the committee has made to further develop the top institute. Ton Rijnders, Vice President Discovery MSD Oss and chairman of the Executive Board: "The report is a formal confirmation of the quality and the added value of TI Pharma. Furthermore, it is a good thing that the committee has an eye for the lengthy period of time required to develop medicines and consequently affirms that the institute should be continued."