Since the UK's exit from the EU, the costs of importing new cancer drugs have nearly quadrupled, with some clinical trial shipping expenses surging by tenfold, complicating cancer research efforts in the UK.

A recent report reveals that Brexit has significantly hindered British cancer patients' access to life-saving drugs and innovative treatments due to escalating costs and increased bureaucratic challenges.

Five years post-Brexit, UK patients are reportedly missing out on advancements in cancer treatment that are available to patients in Europe.

Three key areas of UK cancer research have been particularly affected by Brexit: regulatory environments for clinical trials, workforce mobility, and access to funding.

The report, compiled by experts from organizations like Cancer Research UK and the University of Southampton, highlights the adverse effects of Brexit on UK cancer research, particularly in regulatory issues, workforce mobility, and funding access.

Brexit has necessitated the hiring of an additional qualified person to certify drugs for clinical trials, leading to delays in launching trial arms in the UK.

UK clinical trial groups are struggling to attract global talent, which results in patients missing out on expertise from leading cancer scientists.

To mitigate these issues, the report recommends establishing a mutual recognition agreement for testing medicines to reduce costs and delays for researchers conducting cross-border trials.

The report also reveals that unnecessary duplication in drug testing has caused delays; for instance, the UK incurred an extra £22,000 to certify aspirin batches already verified in the EU.

In response, the UK government asserts its commitment to strengthening research ties with the EU and is supporting researchers in accessing funding from the £80 billion Horizon Europe programme.

The Add Aspirin trial, which investigates whether daily aspirin can prevent cancer recurrence, is facing additional costs of up to £50,000 directly attributed to Brexit.

Children with cancer are among those most affected, experiencing treatment setbacks and being denied access to potentially life-saving drugs.