Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will monitor the impact of the severity modifier on access to new end of life cancer medicines.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is able to recommend the vast majority of cancer medicines it appraises and its approval rate for cancer medicines has consistently been around 90%. NICE concluded a comprehensive review of its methods in January 2022 and has introduced a number of changes that will make its processes fairer and faster, and ensure they provide more equitable access for those with severe diseases. This includes a broader severity modifier to replace the end of life modifier. Analysis carried out by NICE in the development of the modifier indicates that the vast majority of cancer medicines that would be eligible for the end of life modifier would also be eligible for a weighting under the severity modifier. NICE recently reviewed the topics appraised using its new methods and found that of the seven pieces of final guidance published up until December 2022, all seven make positive recommendations. NICE also found that the severity modifier supported a positive recommendation where it was accepted, and plans to further review the implementation of its methods towards the end of 2023.

New innovative medicines do not pay the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access (VPAS) rebate rate for the first three years after marketing authorisation. The National Health Service is a unique proposition for global life sciences companies. With a single commercial deal, a company can have access to a market of over 55 million people. A recent report from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America found that between 2012 and 2021, the United Kingdom was consistently in the top three G20 countries for availability and speed of access to new medicines.