Brain Tumour Research is welcoming the news that a new UK-US deal will mean that brain tumour patients could access new medicines sooner.
The Government has today published full details of its landmark US-UK pharmaceutical partnership, which will accelerate NHS patients’ access to life-changing treatments as a result of the medicines pricing change.
The impact of this change is already being felt with vorasidenib – the first new treatment for adult brain tumours in two decades – approved for use on the NHS earlier this week.
Under the partnership, pharmaceutical companies have stronger incentives to launch innovative treatments in the UK, meaning patients can benefit from new cancer therapies, rare disease treatments, and other breakthrough medicines sooner.
The deal will also mean UK pharmaceutical exports will enter the US tariff free for at least three years, making the UK the first country in the world to secure 0% tariffs on pharmaceutical exports to the UK.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) this week changed the way it evaluates medicines, meaning that some treatments that deliver significant health improvements but might previously have been turned down on cost grounds alone, will now be approved.
Dr Karen Noble, Director of Research, Policy and Innovation at Brain Tumour Research, said: “The announcement that NHS patients will gain improved access to life-changing treatments as a result of the medicines pricing change is a welcome step forward for the brain tumour community. We are already seeing the impact of this shift, with vorasidenib – the first new treatment for adult brain tumours in the UK for two decades – now available to eligible patients on the NHS. We are hopeful that this will unlock further innovative treatments and ensure more promising drugs clear the threshold for approval, opening up new opportunities and better outcomes for brain tumour patients.
“Crucially, improved access alone is not enough, and we must ensure that these new medicines are coming across the pipeline. Increased investment in research remains critical to accelerating the discovery and development of treatments for brain tumours, and we will continue to campaign for this on behalf of our community.”
Sally Penny, 43, a mother-of-two from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, was diagnosed with a grade 2 oligodendroglioma 18 months ago. She has been prescribed vorasidenib through a special access scheme but this access was under threat.
Sally (pictured collecting her first dose of vorasidenib with husband Brett) said: “The fact that my access to vorasidenib was in jeopardy caused me great anxiety and concern over my future. When you have a brain tumour, it’s hard to find little bits of hope and this drug was all I had. The medicines pricing change has been a real game-changer, enabling the drug manufacturer to meet with NICE halfway, and that now means I have access via the NHS to a drug that has already shown significant benefits for me.
“When I was diagnosed, I cried for three months. I was unbelieveably sad, thinking of all the things I thought I would miss: seeing my children grow up, go to university, graduate, get married or buy their first houses. Because of vorasidenib, I’ve got many years ahead of me so I will be able to witness the important milestones in my children’s lives. My family and I are relieved, grateful and full of hope.”
As part of today’s announcement the government has confirmed the UK and US have agreed to work together towards mutual recognition of medical devices approvals, aiming to cut red tape and support innovative health technologies to reach patients, and the launch of new joint taskforce between the government and UK life sciences industry to accelerate innovation in the commercial sector for medicines.
Read the full announcement online here.
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