Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to assess whether the new Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm can be made available to patients in England.

Aducanumab (Aduhelm) does not currently have a marketing authorisation for use in the United Kingdom. Subject to marketing authorisation approval, companies have freedom of pricing for new active substances under the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access agreed between the Government and industry.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) assesses all new medicines and makes recommendations on whether they represent a clinically and cost-effective use of National Health Service resources and should be routinely funded. NICE has begun its appraisal of aducanumab for treating mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease and currently expects to publish final guidance in May 2022, subject to licensing. Commercial discussions between NHS England and the company may take place in parallel with NICE’s appraisal, in line with NHS England’s Commercial Framework.