Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the progress on developing new treatments for sickle cell disorder; and whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on taking steps to accelerate the development of new treatments.

Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as sickle cell disease. Priority four of the framework aims to improve access to specialist care, treatment, and drugs for all rare conditions.

In February 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved exagamglogene autotemcel (Casgevy) for use on the National Health Service in England through the Innovative Medicines Fund, and it is now available for eligible patients. People in England with severe sickle cell disease will be among the first to receive treatment using revolutionary CRISPR gene editing technology, providing a potential cure for some people with severe sickle cell disease.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not discussed steps to accelerate the development of new treatments for sickle cell disease with Cabinet colleagues.