Review seeks to increase patient access to novel drugs

The final report from the Accelerated Access Review has called for the creation of a partnership to speed up the process for getting new treatments to patients through “joined-up” help for innovators.

The report, published 24 October, said that through the partnership, innovators would be able to access help with clinical development, regulation and assessment of cost effectiveness. NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and the National Institute for Health Research would be among those involved in the process. 

The review, set up in June 2015 also resulted in a recommendation to introduce funding for the Early Access to Medicines Scheme. This was welcomed by the BioIndustry Association, which had warned in its submission that this lack of funding posed a barrier to engagement for many small biotech companies.