England’s NICE Says Severity Modifier Working, But Industry Wants Cost Restrictions Lifted

The UK government should remove a cost-neutrality restriction on England’s health technology assessment institute, NICE, that limits the value it places on medicines for severe conditions, says industry body the ABPI.

Cost Balance
The ABPI says the cost-neutrality restriction imposed on NICE should be lifted • Source: Shutterstock

England’s health technology assessment (HTA) institute, NICE, has concluded that a severity modifier introduced in 2022 as a replacement for its previous end-of-life modifier has resulted in a higher proportion of drugs being recommended for use on the National Health Service.

Key Takeaways
  • England's NICE reported a positive impact on the reimbursement of medicines from its severity modifier, which was introduced in 2022 and replaced the end-of-life modifier.

  • However, the ABPI argued that the severity modifier has hindered patient access in some cases, and blamed the UK government for restricting NICE's spending

For this reason, NICE’s board

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