Shorouk Express
Increasing the threshold would make it easier for pricier drugs to reach patients, but would mean the NHS will pay more overall for medicines.
The government is expected to brief U.K. pharmaceutical companies on the details later this week, the same two figures cited above said.
One of the figures said the government had long been resistant to changing the NICE threshold due to the cost to the Treasury for no direct extra benefit, but “we have kicked up enough of a stink and they have given in. This is the price you have to pay post-Trump for global pharma to continue to play in the U.K.”
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on pharmaceutical imports. The trade pact Britain and the U.S. signed in May left the door open to “preferential treatment” on tariffs — but only if the U.K. improved conditions for American pharma companies operating in Britain.
A U.K. government spokesperson said: “The pharmaceutical sector and the innovative medicines it produces are critical to our NHS, our economy and the Plan for Change. Through our Life Sciences Sector Plan, we’ve committed to working with industry to accelerate growth in spending on innovative medicines compared to the previous decade.”
The spokesperson added: “We’ve secured a landmark economic partnership with the US that includes working together on pharmaceutical exports from the UK whilst improving conditions for pharmaceutical companies here. We’re now in advanced discussions with the US Administration to secure the best outcome for the UK, reflecting our strong relationship and the opportunities from close partnership with our pharmaceutical industry.”
