Yesterday (Wednesday 28th August) saw the announcement of a new industry-government partnership with up to £400 million of investment to support faster patient access to cutting-edge treatments, strengthen clinical trials and improve UK medicine manufacturing.
The Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access, and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme will channel significant investment into the UK’s health and life sciences sector over the next five years, boosting economic growth and the global competitiveness of the UK’s life sciences sector.
VPAG is a voluntary agreement between the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), designed to improve patient outcomes, manage the NHS medicines bill, and support the life sciences industry.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This private investment is a significant vote of confidence in the UK and will fast-track the next generation of treatments to NHS patients.”
Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “We are determined that the most effective new treatments are made available to NHS patients by ensuring the UK is the best place to discover and deploy new medicines, from early research through clinical trials to manufacture.”
There was positive reaction to the announcement from across the devolved nations and from Government funders, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
How all of this translates for UK brain tumour patients is of key importance for us and we will make sure we monitor progress and ensure there is, where possible, equality of developments and benefit, as brain tumour patients have historically been left behind as progress has been made in other cancer sites and disease areas.
Read yesterday’s Government press release here.
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Published Thursday 29th August 2024.