Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the innovative potential of PCSK9 inhibitor medicines for the treatment of high levels of cholesterol.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has appraised the PCSK9 inhibitors alirocumab (Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha) for treating primary hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia. In June 2016, NICE issued final technology appraisal guidance recommending both treatments, subject to certain criteria. Further information is available at:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/conditions-and-diseases/diabetes-and-other-endocrinal--nutritional-and-metabolic-conditions/lipid-disorders

NHS Commissioners are legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisal guidance within three months of its final guidance being issued.