06.11.17
‘Breakthrough’ medicines could be available up to four years faster
A new scheme from the government could reduce the time it takes for “breakthrough” medicines and technologies to reach patients.
The new ‘accelerated access pathway’ is expected to make it faster for finance and evaluation approvals to be negotiated by the NHS and allow them to purchase products more quickly.
Under the scheme, a number of products each year will receive “breakthrough” designation. This will unlock a package of support allowing firms to accelerate clinical development and gain a fast-track route through the NHS’s approval processes.
“I want the UK to be the best place in the world to develop new drugs and medical technology – but despite the innovation happening here, our uptake in the NHS can be too slow,” commented health minister Lord O’Shaughnessy.
“Today’s new measures will not only benefit patients by improving how quickly and easily we can get innovative products from the lab to the bedside, but will guarantee future collaboration between the life sciences sector and the NHS post-Brexit – benefiting the British economy and creating jobs.”
The government also plans to provide an £86m package to help medicine developers gain access to the NHS market and provide medicines to patients.
Sir Andrew Witty, chair of the Accelerated Access Collaborative, also added: “Patients, scientists and the UK economy will all benefit from the positive steps outlined by the government today.
“The opportunity to ensure the NHS gets rapid access to cost effective breakthrough technologies is vitally important, and I’m delighted to help lead the effort to deliver this.”
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