Can The UK Remain A First Launch Market?

Uncertainty, Modifiers and Discounts Key To NICE Methods Update

More political support from the National Health Service and health ministers is needed to ensure the UK’s future as a desirable launch market.

Space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida — Changes at NICE key to UK's first launch market status • Source: Alamy

The UK could emerge from Brexit with a better system for getting innovative new medicines to patients, according to Gilead Sciences’ Gordon Lundie. However, for this to happen, the reviews that England’s health technology appraisal body, NICE, is conducting into its methods and processes must lead to much needed updates on issues including discounting and uncertainty and join up all parts of the access system, said Lundie, Gilead’s senior director of market access and reimbursement in the UK and Ireland.

Lundie also wants to hear more from NHS chief executive Simon Stevens and other NHS leaders, as well as from...