Current regulation and governance of UK clinical trials hold up medical advances, says the Academy of Medical Sciences.

As it takes an axe to quangos from education to health, the UK government is laying plans for a new single body to supervise clinical trials.

The UK has brought in new rules it says will make it easier to get permissions to carry out clinical trials of medical devices, such as hip and knee replacements, pacemakers and stents.

The UK is setting up a national network to carry out clinical trials of paediatric medicines, filling the gap left by pharmaceutical companies which usually test drugs only on adults.

The conclusion that there was nothing wrong with the specifics of the TeGenero trial in which six healthy volunteers ended up in intensive care has repercussions for the wider biotech industry.

Chroma Therapeutics Ltd raised £30 million in a third private round, giving the chromatin specialist funding for the next three years and enabling it to advance the lead programme through Phase II clinical studies and bring two further products into the clinic.