Brexit could mean Brits lose access to Europe-wide trials of the newest medicines, include treatments that could save the lives of kids with cancer.

The Institute of Cancer Research says that clinical trials of new drugs can be the best hope for some children fighting cancer. But if the UK leaves the EU’s European Medicines Agency, it could take years of UK kids to get access to the latest treatments.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said he expects the UK to leave the EMA as a result of Brexit. But even shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth called that departure a “reckless and unbelievable” move that would hurt patients and the NHS as a whole. With life-saving treatments on the line, it’s up for us to call on Hunt to put partisan politics aside and do what’s right for patients.  

Tell Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to do right by patients across the UK and remain in the European Medicines Agency.

In order to test a treatment on children with the same rare cancers, pharmaceutical companies choose to test new drugs in large markets like the EU or the US. So if the UK leaves the European Medicines Agency, which licenses new drugs, UK patients may lose access to Europe-wide trials of the latest treatments.

That means kids battling cancer could have to wait years before they can access the latest treatments. For some, Hunt’s decision to leave the EMA is literally a life or death decision.

As Health Secretary, Hunt has an obligation to put public health above partisan politics. That means fighting to keep ties to the EMA even in the midst of Brexit. Let’s come together to remind Secretary Hunt that when children’s lives are on the line, the choice should be clear.

Urge Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to put patients first and remain in the European Medicines Agency.