New pilots to bring innovative medicines to NHS patients more quickly

NHS patients could access cutting-edge treatments potentially months earlier under a series of pioneering pilots announced by the Department of Health and Social Care.

A joint taskforce comprising government, pharmaceutical industry and NHS representatives developed the schemes over a 10-week period, with patient organisations contributing input. Testing of new approaches to medicines pricing, access and adoption will begin as early as this September.

One pilot will explore how innovative therapies that have already cleared safety, quality and clinical standards can reach eligible NHS patients more swiftly, including new treatments for rare conditions.

The announcement follows changes made to NICE's cost-effectiveness threshold in April, which have already resulted in nine additional medicines being approved for NHS patients in England and Wales. Those approvals cover a range of serious conditions including blood disorders, autoimmune diseases and several cancers.

The pilots were developed to deliver commitments outlined in the UK–US pharmaceutical arrangement, with the aim of speeding up and improving fairness in how new treatments reach patients.

NHS England operates managed access routes including the Innovative Medicines Fund, which provides £680 million in ringfenced funding for innovative treatments alongside the Cancer Drugs Fund.