NHS unveils screening plan to eliminate hepatitis C virus
Thousands of people in the UK will be screened for hepatitis C virus in a new pilot aimed at expanding use of antiviral therapies to […]
NHS
Macmillan alliance will provide digital health apps to cancer patients
Newly diagnosed cancer patients across the UK will get free access to digital mental health therapies, thanks to a new partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support […]
Watchdog fines Pfizer and Flynn £70m for overcharging NHS for epilepsy drug
Penalties come after an in-depth investigation carried out by the Competition and Markets Authority The drugmakers Pfizer and Flynn Pharma have been fined a total […]
The big squeeze?
With NHS England highlighting savings of £1.2 billion on medicines in three years coming from both deals on generics and new innovative treatments, Leela Barham […]
NICE unlocks use of Amarin’s Vazkepa in 425k NHS patients
Health technology assessment (HTA) agency NICE has finalised its guidance on Amarin’s Vazkepa, clearing the path for GPs to start prescribing the drug in up […]
Wysa Secures $20M for AI-Powered Mental Health Chatbot
What You Should Know: – Wysa, a Boston, MA-based AI digital platform for mental health, today announces it has secured $20M in financing led by […]
NICE backs two new breast cancer drugs for NHS use
Cost-effectiveness watchdog NICE has recommended routine NHS use of two new therapies for women with advanced breast cancer – Gilead’s Trodelvy and Novartis’ Piqray – […]
BMS’ Opdivo gets NHS use as adjuvant bladder cancer therapy
NICE has recommended routine use of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo for the adjuvant treatment of some patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common form of […]
UK health secretary Sajid Javid in shock resignation
UK health secretary Sajid Javid is giving up his position after a year in the role, saying in his resignation letter that he can “no […]
The post-Covid New Normal: a golden opportunity for the NHS?
I recently had the pleasure of attending the PING Conference 2022, which had the tagline of ‘The Golden Age for Life Sciences Innovation’. In part, […]
NHS England trials first medicine deliveries by drone
Cancer drugs will be flown from a facility in Portsmouth to a hospital on the Isle of Wight by drone, in the first pilot study […]
NHS App could offer video consultations by 2024
The NHS App will be updated over the next couple of years to include a series of new features, including the ability to offer remote […]
NHS England reveals travel plan to cut waiting lists
NHS patients in England who have been waiting more than two years for surgery will be offered treatment in other parts of the country, in […]
Moderna facility in UK confirmed, part of 10-year deal with gov’t
Moderna has said it will open a new R&D and manufacturing facility in the UK which could lead to improved access by NHS patients to […]
Lilly’s Verzenios gets NICE blessing for early-stage breast cancer
Thousands more people with breast cancer in England look set to be eligible for routine treatment with Eli Lilly’s Verzenios, after new guidance from NICE […]
Hansa gets NICE okay for Idefirix in kidney transplant patients
Sweden’s Hansa Biopharma has claimed a positive opinion from NICE for Idefirix, which becomes the first drug cleared for NHS use in a group of […]
Questions linger as England’s Innovative Medicines Fund kicks off
In part one of this two-article series on the latest on England’s Innovative Medicines Fund (IMF), Leela Barham examined what the IMF is and what […]
NICE backs Astellas’ oral therapy Evrenzo for anaemia in kidney disease
Astellas’ oral HIF-PH inhibitor Evrenzo has become the first drug in the class to be recommended for routine NHS use as a treatment for anaemia […]
England’s Innovative Medicines Fund hits another milestone
Leela Barham takes a look at the latest milestone on what will have been a close to three-year journey to an Innovative Medicines Fund (IMF) […]
For haemophiliacs, most of the world is still living in the dark ages
A sufferer explains how the differences in treatment between the UK and his native India highlight a global medical apartheid Like the Hindu deity Krishna, […]
NICE backs NHS use of Amarin’s Vazkepa for cardiovascular risk reduction
Around 425,000 in England and Wales with cardiovascular disease who are at risk of a secondary stroke or heart attack, could be eligible for treatment […]
MHRA gives Alnylam ‘innovation passport’ for hypertension drug zilebesiran
The UK medicines regulator has awarded Alnylam’s RNAi-based therapy zilebesiran for hypertension an ‘innovation passport‘, a designation designed to speed up NHS access to promising […]
Sleepio app for insomnia backed by NICE
After a non-committal appraisal of Big Health’s Sleepio app for insomnia last November in draft guidance from NICE, the cost-effectiveness agency has come out in […]
NICE endorses Magtrace diagnostic to detect breast cancer spread
Women with breast cancer in England and Wales will soon be able to access a new diagnostic based on an injectable magnetic marker liquid called […]
Gedeon Richter gets NICE nod for uterine fibroids drug Ryeqo
Around 4,500 women in the UK will be eligible for treatment with Gedeon Richter’s once-daily oral therapy Ryeqo, after NICE backed the GnRH antagonist to […]
Radical plans to transform NHS drawn up at drug firms and No 10 roundtable
Exclusive: ideas include reducing trial safeguards and allowing startups to harvest patient data A list of radical ideas for transforming the NHS, including lifting safeguards […]
What can I do if I can’t get HRT?
British Menopause Society releases equivalence guide to help women during England’s drug shortage Acute HRT shortages have left some women taking extreme measures to access […]
Medical regulator faces questions over board members’ links to drug firms
Concerns over potential conflicts of interest lead to calls for regulator’s policy to be strengthened The UK medicines watchdog has been urged to strengthen its […]
NICE backs Biogen’s Vumerity for multiple sclerosis
Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can now access treatment with Biogen’s oral therapy Vumerity, after NICE recommended the […]
UK launches its ‘Netflix-style’ payment model for antibiotics
The UK is poised to become the first country in the world to launch a new payment model for antibiotics that could reverse decades of […]
NICE verdict on Trodelvy threatens unequal access to drug in UK
In draft guidance, NICE has said it cannot recommend Gilead Sciences’ Trodelvy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), setting up a disparity in access to the […]
NICE reverses stance on Merck’s Bavencio for bladder cancer
Last year, NICE said that Merck KGaA/Pfizer’s Bavencio was too expensive for routine in NHS use as a first-line maintenance treatment for bladder cancer, even […]
UK government ‘not doing enough on early cancer diagnosis’
Parliamentarians in the UK have warned that the government is not making the effort needed to reach its target of diagnosing three quarters of cancer […]
NIH funds study to evaluate long-term COVID in children
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is funding a nationwide study in the US to support research on long-COVID, chronic COVID, or as it’s scientifically […]
ICSs – an opportunity to improve Patient & Market Access at a local level
With the new Health and Care Bill edging ever closer to receiving Royal Assent, life sciences companies in the UK are preparing to navigate the […]
NICE ends UK access disparity to osteoporosis drug Evenity
NICE has reversed its stance on UCB and Amgen’s severe osteoporosis therapy Evenity, saying out can be prescribed on the NHS for women with the […]
NICE expands access to real-time glucose monitoring for diabetics
More than 250,000 people living with type 1 diabetes in the UK will be offered real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology, reducing their reliance on […]
Government pledges to work with industry to make UK a genomics leader
With initiatives like The 100,000 Genome Project, the UK has led the world on genomic research. In a bid to maintain that position, the governments […]
Day 3 HIMSS Roundup: Glooko Acquires DIABNEXT, GE Healthcare/AliveCor Integration
Venture Capital, Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Activity Glooko Acquires DIABNEXT® to Expand Diabetes Offerings in France Glooko, a leading provider of remote patient […]
Real-time Abbott glucose monitor available to NHS after UK launch
The latest version of Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitor is now available via the NHS to eligible people with diabetes in the UK. Abbott’s […]
NICE says no to Keytruda in triple-negative breast cancer
There isn’t enough evidence to support the use of Merck & Co/MSD’s Keytruda in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced triple negative […]
Ex-NHS Digital head says merger into NHS England is a mistake
The former chair of NHS Digital has slammed the decision to absorb the unit into NHS England as a “significant retrograde step” that could undermine […]
‘It’s a real-life Hunger Games’: a lifesaving drug costs $2m, but not every child can get it
Zolgensma is a revolutionary gene therapy that can stop a deadly childhood condition called SMA in its tracks. It’s also one of the most expensive […]
UK govt pledges £260m to health data, manufacturing
The UK biopharma industry has welcomed a new tranche of funding from the government aimed at bolstering manufacturing of medicinal products and developing the national […]
One year on: How is the UK’s vision of a future-proof research environment shaping up?
One year ago, a UK-wide vision for the country’s future research landscape promised streamlined processes, and a patient-centred, competitive environment. But how far have we […]
Novo Nordisk launches first smart insulin pens for NHS patients
Novo Nordisk has made its smart insulin pens available in the UK, giving people treated within the NHS for diabetes access to devices that can […]
GSK’s ZEJULA gets green light for NHS use
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) ZEJULA (niraparib) for some forms of ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal […]
GSK’s ZEJULA gets green light for NHS use
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) ZEJULA (niraparib) for some forms of ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal […]
Bia Care starts NHS trial of its digital menopause platform
A virtual menopause clinic service developed by Bia Care is starting a randomised clinical trial within the NHS that will not only test how well […]
Patient Data & Decentralized Web: The Key To A Healthier Future?
Jonathan Bingham – Janeiro Digital, CEO Interoperable data and IT systems in healthcare has long been an enigma – many have tried to tackle the […]
Digital health firm Bia Care extends NHS menopause partnership
Digital health startup Bia Care has been awarded additional funding from the NHS to extend the rollout of its virtual clinic providing remote care for […]
Numbers on NHS waiting lists will rise, warns UK health secretary
Waiting list numbers for routine hospital treatment in the UK, already at around six million people, will rise and are unlikely to start falling for […]
Novo Nordisk gets NICE okay for obesity drug Wegovy
Novo Nordisk’s new obesity therapy Wegovy has been recommended for routine NHS use by UK cost-effectiveness watchdog NICE, but in a narrower group of patients […]
New NHS online platform will show waiting times for care
The UK government’s long-awaited plan to tackle the backlog in NHS care caused by the pandemic has been delayed, but one small part that aims […]
How does rare disease prevalence impact drug pricing in England?
In this second article of a three-part series exploring pricing in Europe, CRA’s Life Sciences Practice team discusses the role that disease rarity plays in […]
NHS signs deal with Orchard for pricey Libmeldy gene therapy
NHS England has agreed a confidential deal with Orchard Therapeutics that will allow access to Libmeldy – a gene therapy for a rare childhood disease […]
Children in England with fatal condition to get world’s most expensive drug
NHS England says Libmeldy is ‘life-saving’ for babies and young children with metachromatic leukodystrophy Children in England with a rare and fatal genetic condition will […]
Drugmakers fined for colluding on NHS price of nausea drug
The UK Competition and Markets Authority has ruled that several drugmakers worked together to raise the NHS price of widely-used nausea drug prochlorperazine, fining them […]
Addressing the UK digital skills gap
Over the past two years, life sciences media has been flooded with headlines about the rise of digital health systems. The sudden arrival of COVID-19 […]
NICE expands cover for AZ’s high potassium drug Lokelma
NICE has recommended extending funding via the NHS for AstraZeneca’s elevated potassium therapy Lokelma in new guidance, making it easier to receive the drug outside […]
Labour peer’s AI healthcare firm Sensyne says cash is running out
Data analytics company run by Paul Drayson says money could run out in weeks unless it finds emergency funding Shares in Sensyne Health plummeted after […]
UK medicines regulator approves Pfizer’s ‘life-saving’ Covid pill
Paxlovid found to be ‘safe and effective’ at reducing hospitalisation and death among vulnerable adults Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage UK […]
NICE backs Aimmune’s peanut allergy drug Palforzia for children
Children in England with peanut allergies could be among the first in Europe to get access to Aimmune’s oral immunotherapy Palforzia, after the drugmaker agreed […]
NHS drug pledge broken for asthma sufferers and smokers, report reveals
Exclusive: charities critical of failure to meet health plan for England, despite 2019 agreement A promise to ensure that people with severe asthma and smokers […]
NICE gives Keytruda parity with Opdivo for adjuvant melanoma
After three years of availability via the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF), MSD’s checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda has now been approved for routine NHS use after surgery […]
Booster COVID jabs offered to all adults in England
The UK government has said it will step up its COVID-19 booster vaccination dramatically, with everyone in England aged over 18 offered a third dose […]
Boehringer-backed digital health academy set for launch in UK
An online training academy that aims to raise the digital skills of NHS health and care workers is due to open its virtual doors next […]
Innovation and collaboration – the MHRA’s pandemic approach
The pandemic has propelled issues for the pharmaceutical industry to the top of the political and public agenda, from clinical trial recruitment to the journey […]
NHS Digital, NHSX will be absorbed into NHS England
It has been confirmed that NHS Digital and NHSX are to be incorporated into NHS England as part of a major shake-up of the health […]
NICE reaches a deal with Roche on access to oral SMA drug Evrysdi
Roche’s oral treatment Evrysdi for the rare genetic disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) will be made available on the NHS in England, after NICE reached […]
NICE changes tack on NHS use of BMS’ myelofibrosis drug Inrebic
After turning down routine NHS funding of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Inrebic for bone marrow disorder myelofibrosis earlier this year, NICE now says the drug can be […]
Parliamentary probe finds racism evidence in NHS sickle cell care
Patients with sickle cell disease are facing racism in the NHS that is putting their lives a risk, claims a new report. The All-Party Parliamentary […]
NICE changes tack on ‘game changer’ rare cancer therapy Poteligeo
NICE has reversed an earlier decision not to recommend NHS use of Kyowa Kirin’s Poteligeo for two rare blood cancers, ending the threat of a […]
UK sets aside £248m to “digitise” NHS diagnostics
The UK government has announced £248 million in spending over the next year for a project to make it easier for patient test results and […]
Cautious welcome as NICE backs Forxiga for chronic kidney disease
Tens of thousands of people with chronic kidney disease in England could be eligible for treatment with AstraZeneca’s SGLT2 inhibitor Forxiga, after NICE backed NHS […]
Study shows HPV jab almost 90% effective at preventing cervical cancer
Routine vaccination with human papillomavirus vaccines have resulted in an 87% reduction in cervical cancer cases in England, and could even see the need for […]
‘No evidence’ conflicts of interest were considered in Greensill contracts – NAO
National Audit Office reviewed NHS and pharmacy pay contracts given to David Cameron’s former adviser Whitehall’s independent watchdog has found “no evidence” that ministers or […]
Make locally led public health ‘business as usual’, says report
COVID-19 proved the value of locally led, place-based public health – but teams need long-term funding and support if they are to take their place […]
NICE changes stance on Sanofi’s Dupixent for severe asthma
18 months after saying “no” to regular NHS funding for Sanofi and Regeneron’s Dupixent (dupilumab) for severe asthma in initial guidance, NICE has now backed […]
Digital therapeutics world first for Big Health in Scotland
UK-based Big Health has passed a digital health milestone after Scotland became the first country to make anxiety and insomnia digital therapeutics available on a […]
Consternation as NICE rejects Janssen MS drug Ponvory
NICE has delivered its first verdict on NHS funding of Janssen’s oral multiple sclerosis drug Ponvory, and it’s not good news for patients with the […]
Google’s DeepMind faces suit over access to NHS patient records
London-based firm Mishcon de Reya said it filed a claim in the U.K.’s High Court, alleging that Google’s access of 1.6 million people’s medical records […]
NICE clears NHS use of Roche’s Tecentriq in bladder cancer
NICE has recommended routine NHS access to Roche’s cancer immunotherapy Tecentriq for some bladder cancer patients, four years after it was first made available via […]
Yes, drugs are overprescribed: but it’s not the fault of GPs | Letters
Fragmented care means patients can be put on drugs by many different specialists, says Charles Warlow, while Dr Wendy Outwin highlights the daily reality of […]
Early detection of cancers will require blood sweat and tears
An NHS study of a new cancer blood test holds huge promise, but will not be without its challenges, says Snedden Campbell’s Ivor Campbell. The […]
Keytruda backed by NICE for late-stage oesophageal cancer
MSD’s Keytruda has become the first immunotherapy cleared by NICE for previously-untreated patients with advanced oesophageal cancer, making it an option for routine NHS treatment. […]
Taking stock of NHS medicines optimisation
Given the rising cost of medicines as a share of the NHS budget in England, the establishment of ICSs provides a timely opportunity to take […]
NHS Deploys TytoCare’s Telehealth Solution to 14 Trusts Across UK
What You Should Know: – TytoCare, an NYC-based all-in-one modular device and examination platform for AI-powered, on-demand, remote medical exams, today announced its expanded partnership […]
NHS England starts largest ever trial of Galleri cancer blood test
A blood test called Galleri that could detect dozens of different forms of cancer before symptoms appear will start trials by the NHS in England […]
NHS fast tracks access to Amgen’s just-approved KRAS cancer drug
Amgen’s first-in-class KRAS inhibitor Lumykras has been approved in Great Britain and arrives already armed with an agreement to allow early access while its cost-effectiveness […]
AZ CEO Soriot urges caution on COVID booster doses
The UK should think twice before backing widespread use of COVID-19 booster vaccinations, as to do so could place unnecessary burden on the NHS over […]
NICE changes its mind on J&J’s Erleada in prostate cancer
NICE has reversed its position on Johnson & Johnson’s oral prostate cancer therapy Erleada in patients with hormone-relapsed or hormone sensitive tumours, backing NHS use […]
UK pledges £5.4bn to NHS to ease COVID-19 treatment backlog
NHS England will get an extra £5.4 billion ($7.5 billion) in funding over the next six months to respond to COVID-19 and address a backlog […]
Study backs benefit of insomnia DTx Sleepio on mental health
A study has shown that people with anxiety or depression who used a digital therapeutic (DTx) for insomnia alongside psychological therapy, had better improvement in […]
NICE backs Cosentyx’ use in thousands of children with psoriasis
NICE has recommended broadening NHS use of Novartis’ IL-17 inhibitor Cosentyx to include children aged six to 17 with severe plaque psoriasis. The cost-effectiveness agency […]
NICE backs NHS use of Novartis’ cholesterol drug Leqvio
Novartis’ cholesterol-lowering drug Leqvio will be made available on the NHS in England and Wales, and could help to prevent up to 30,000 deaths, according […]
Novartis Signs an Agreement with NHS to Commercialize Leqvio (inclisiran) for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease
Shots: The agreement follows the NICE recommendation to deliver Leqvio via a population health management approach for high-risk cardiovascular patients across England The NICE recommendation […]
NICE rejects J&J’ Darzalex regimen for multiple myeloma
New guidance from NICE has rejected a combination regimen based on Johnson & Johnson’s Darzalex for a group of previously-untreated patients with multiple myeloma, a […]
Blueprints for UK pharma-NHS joint working
Joint working could hold at least part of the answer to getting the NHS back on its feet after COVID, according to the ABPI. As […]
NHS data sharing scheme “on hold” as millions opt out
The NHS’ much-vaunted GP data-sharing initiative looks to be on a prolonged hiatus, with at least one report suggesting it has been hit by 1.2 […]
UK adults asked to record coughs to improve COVID detection
Researchers in the UK are asking adults who have taken a COVID-19 test in the last 72 hours to record themselves coughing, breathing and speaking […]
A problem combination?
Leela Barham takes stock of past NICE decisions for combinations to explore the scale of the reimbursement challenge for combination therapies. Combination therapies are now […]
NICE changes stance on Lilly’s breast cancer dug Verzenio
After rejecting Eli Lilly’s Verzenio for breast cancer therapy earlier this year, NICE has relented, recommending the drug for routine NHS use alongside hormonal therapy […]
Breast cancer drug approved for NHS after maker agrees discount
Reversal of earlier rejection by Nice of abemaciclib – known as Verzenios – is welcomed by campaigners A breast cancer drug that was rejected for […]
Collaborate to simplify cancer trials and accelerate post-pandemic recovery
How could simplifying the administration of clinical trials help cancer diagnosis, care, and treatment levels to exceed pre-pandemic levels? Amanda Barrell reports from the ABPI […]
Scotland backs Bavencio for bladder cancer after NICE says no
Patients with bladder cancer in Scotland will be the first in the UK to claim access to maintenance treatment with Merck Serono and Pfizer’s Bavencio, […]
Pfizer and Flynn accused of overcharging NHS for anti-epilepsy drugs
Competition regulator the CMA alleges drugs firms abused dominant position with unfairly high prices Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Flynn have been accused by the UK’s […]
Drug firm that hiked prices by 6,000% paid shareholders £400m
Advanz Pharma and former private equity owners were fined £100m by markets watchdog A pharmaceuticals firm that inflated thyroid drug prices by up to 6,000% […]
Pain aggravation: the human cost of medicine price hikes
After Advanz’s £100m fine over the price of its thyroid tablets, two people recount the difficulty of obtaining medication The UK’s competition watchdog has fined […]
Price gouging fine for Advanz is a rare story that is becoming common | Phillip Inman
Competition and Markets Authority is working on a string of cases involving the NHS being overcharged for drugs A fine by the Competition and Markets […]
Pharma firm Advanz fined after thyroid drug price hike of 6,000%
CMA found company’s ‘excessive and unfair’ prices cost NHS almost £30m extra over 10 years The UK’s competition watchdog has imposed fines of more than […]
NHS sets aside £340m for new Innovative Medicines Fund
NHS England has matched its financial backing of the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) with an equivalent pot of money for a new Innovative Medicines Fund […]
UK funds ‘long COVID’ research drive as restrictions ease
The UK government has provided almost £20 million ($27 million) in funding for 15 research projects aiming to look into the causes of long COVID, […]
UK funds ‘long COVID’ research drive as restrictions ease
The UK government has provided almost £20 million ($27 million) in funding for 15 research projects aiming to look into the causes of long COVID, […]
UK drug companies fined £260m for inflating prices for NHS
Watchdog issues warning after abuses that included paying would-be rivals to stay out of the market The UK’s competition watchdog has imposed fines totalling more […]
Digitisation key to improving mental health services in England; report
Faced with a looming mental health crisis, the UK government has been urged to invest in the digitisation of service provision across the NHS in […]
How digital pathways are changing healthcare
As demonstrated throughout COVID, digital health is no longer experimental. Digital technologies are proving their value by allowing for better care, improved adherence and a […]
Accelerating the adoption of innovation in the NHS
Spreading innovation in the NHS is as much about fostering collaboration and building relationships as it is about designing new interventions and launching new technologies. […]
A life sciences vision to deliver health, wealth and resilience for the UK
The ABPI’s chief executive Dr Richard Torbett outlines a new ‘vision’ and 10-year strategy for UK life sciences, launched by the government today. After an […]
UK body recommends COVID booster campaign in autumn
The UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that the NHS should start a COVID-19 booster shot programme in September, to run […]
UK body recommends COVID booster campaign in autumn
The UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that the NHS should start a COVID-19 booster shot programme in September, to run […]
Pandemic paves way for innovative hybrid healthcare
While the heroic abilities of the NHS have been on display throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the last year has also exposed the longstanding limitations and […]
What’s affordable anyway? The future of NHS drug spending
The single biggest monetary difference that can be made to the successor to the UK’s 2019 Voluntary Scheme for branded medicines pricing and access (VPAS) […]
NHS patient data upload delayed by two months, says UK
The UK’s decision to set back the start date of a new patient data-sharing scheme by two months has been welcomed by privacy campaigners, who […]
Scotland backs rare blood cancer drug Poteligeo rejected by NICE
A north-south divide has emerged in UK medicines access after the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) okayed Kyowa Kirin’s Poteligeo for two rare blood cancers, a […]
Study finds “alarming” hike in antidepressant costs during COVID-19
Researchers in the UK have found that there was a four million rise in prescriptions for antidepressants in England during 2020, adding £139 million to […]
EU’s COVID jab certificate scheme goes live in seven countries
The first batch of EU countries have started recognising the vaccination status of travellers using digital vaccine certificates as the bloc moves towards freeing up […]
Campaigners challenge NHS England’s latest plan to share patient data
Remember the Care.data debacle? Now, a new move by NHS England to move the records of 55 million patients into a database that will be […]
Healios raises £7m to expand digital mental health services
Digital therapy specialist Healios has raised £7 million in new financing that will be used to expand its suite of mental health services, at a […]
UK highlights life sciences’ key role in post-COVID recovery
The UK government used the Queen’s Speech to set out its ambition to make the country a leader in life sciences, garnering a warm response […]
AI in action: Report highlights the real-world benefits of AI in healthcare
Joined up thinking is the key to converting AI-driven advances into real benefits for healthcare systems, say NHSX. Healthcare systems the world over have been […]
NICE’s Office for Digital Health opens its doors
UK cost-effectiveness agency NICE has this week officially opened the Office for Digital Health, one of the pillars of its five-year strategy out to 2026. […]
Scotland backs NHS use of Alexion’s Ultomiris for rare disease aHUS
NHS patients in Scotland with the rare disease atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) will now be able to access treatment with Alexion’s Ultomiris, ahead of […]
NHS app could be used as a vaccine passport
The NHS app could be used a kind of vaccine passport, according to UK government sources, although it is unclear how far the project has […]
AI is having a productive time in pharma and healthcare
Two years ago the use of AI in pharma and healthcare looked to be quickly heading for what Gartner’s Hype Cycle model would term the […]
Enhertu cleared for NHS use via Cancer Drugs Fund
NICE has recommended the use of AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu in draft guidance, the first time the drug has been commissioned in any European […]
Apple, Google block NHS contact tracing app update on privacy grounds
A scheduled update to the NHS COVID-19 app has been blocked because it allows location tracking – something prohibited by Apple and Google, which developed […]
Under-30s may have ‘small delay’ in getting Covid jab, says Jonathan Van-Tam
England’s deputy chief medical officer says delay would be precaution against rare side-effect of blood clots Coronavirus – latest UK updates See all our coronavirus […]
Wales forms authority to drive digital health in NHS
A new organisation dedicated to increasing the use of digital health in the NHS in Wales has come into being, 18 months after the move […]
NICE backs Sobi’s Kineret for rare inflammatory disease
The UK’s cost-effectiveness agency NICE has recommended that Sobi’s Kineret can be used to treat NHS patients with Still’s disease, a rare form of arthritis […]
UK ED Dept. Shows Poor Usability for Major EHRs, Survey Finds
What You Should Know: – Emergency doctors in the UK have said many electronic health records (EHRs) in use are close to being unacceptable, and […]
Health tech and digital transformation lessons from the NHS
In the year since the UK went into its first lockdown to limit the spread of COVID-19 the country’s health service has undergone an unprecedented […]
Cancer services should be rebuilt after COVID disruption, experts say
There is a pressing need for a joined-up cancer strategy to reverse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the […]
Another UK hospital trials clinical comms platform Bleepa
UK medical imaging firm Feedback has continued its expansion of its digital communication platform Bleepa with a one-year contract with a large UK hospital. The […]
MHRA launches patient involvement pilot for drug applications
The UK drugs regulator is now asking that all applications for new medicines or indications detail the efforts made to involve patients in the drug […]
Barts Health puts real-time mobile data into staff hands
England’s largest NHS Trust, Barts Health, is rolling out a new data analytics app that it says will improve patient care at its five London […]
Patrick Vallance: the adviser who spoke scientific truth to power
The UK’s chief scientific adviser loves good food, enjoys a Scandi drama – and has been called ‘the richest civil servant in history’ Sir Patrick […]
Patrick Vallance: the adviser who spoke scientific truth to power
The UK’s chief scientific adviser loves good food, enjoys a Scandi drama – and has been called ‘the richest civil servant in history’ Sir Patrick […]
Pharma must adapt to embrace the opportunities of a new-look NHS
Fundamental changes to the way the NHS is structured and funded are afoot – and pharma needs to adapt to this new way of working. […]
Inside the UK’s leading efforts to restart clinical research
A herculean national effort has seen 69% of paused studies due to COVID restarted under the National Institute for Health Research’s (NIHR) Restart Framework. Experts […]
Double first for Scotland as it backs Roche’s Rozlytrek, Novartis’ Zolgensma
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has said Roche’s Rozlytrek can be used by NHS Scotland for the treatment of solid tumours with NTRK gene fusion […]
NICE says no to AZ’s Lynparza for prostate cancer
NHS patients in England will not be able to get access to AstraZeneca’s PARP inhibitor Lynparza if they have BRCA-positive advance prostate cancer, according to […]
NHS to use world’s most expensive drug to treat spinal muscular atrophy
Zolgensma, which costs £1.79m for one-off treatment, will be available in England this year for the first time The world’s most expensive drug, which treats […]
Lilly’s Olumiant is first JAK drug backed by NICE for eczema
Eli Lilly’s JAK inhibitor Olumiant has become the first drug in the JAK inhibitor class to be recommended for NHS use in England and Wales […]
Life-extending drug for incurable breast cancer approved for NHS use
About 3,300 women a year may benefit from decision to approve ribociclib Women with incurable advanced breast cancer will be able to get a drug […]
Tribunal maintains Lexon’s £1.2m fine for breaking competition law
Pharmaceutical wholesaler Lexon (UK) has lost its appeal against a £1.2 million fine in a case that accused it of exchanging commercially sensitive information about […]
UK Launches World’s First COVID-19 Human Challenge Study
What You Should Know: – This week, the United Kingdom (UK) will be the first country in the world to run a COVID-19 human challenge […]
‘It shows what we’re capable of’: the NHS’s vaccine triumph
A huge effort has helped the UK provide 14m first doses of Covid vaccines in about two months Coronavirus – latest updates See all our […]
Wilmington Healthcare launches new platform to map the formulary landscape
Healthcare intelligence provider Wilmington Healthcare has launched a new platform that enables pharma companies to develop a clear picture of formulary status across therapy areas […]
VPAS: Achievement so far on objectives for the economy and innovation
In the third part of this series taking stock of the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access objectives, Leela Barham looks at the third […]
UK targets COVID-19 variants with new order for CureVac jab
The UK has agreed a 50 million-dose order for a COVID-19 vaccine with German biotech CureVac to support development of a shot that specifically targets […]
VPAS: Achievements so far on affordability
In the second part of this series taking stock of the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access objectives, Leela Barham looks at […]
UK vaccine strategy ‘paying off’ as latest trials boost stockpiles
Pre-ordering of Janssen and Novavax means Britain has procured 247m successfully trialled jabs Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Britain has cemented […]
NICE reverses stance on Celgene’s Revlimid for myeloma maintenance
NHS patients in England with newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma can be treated with Celgene’s Revlimid as maintenance therapy after a stem cell transplant, after new guidance […]
Unlocking health data to improve oncology outcomes
As the largest single-payer healthcare system in Europe, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has a uniquely beneficial health data and real-world evidence (RWE) environment. […]
UK is first European country to see COVID-19 deaths pass 100,000
More than 100,000 people have died within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test in the UK, the first European country to meet that grim […]
Nearly half of UK young people buy meds after consulting “Dr Google”
It’s evident that relying on Google for a health diagnosis isn’t a good idea, but it seems a majority of UK people still do – […]
NICE backs broad use for Gilead/Galapagos arthritis pill Jyseleca
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in England will be able to get treatment with Gilead Sciences and Galapagos’ JAK inhibitor Jyseleca, after it was backed […]
The elective care conundrum – can digital innovation help?
Karina Malhotra from Acumentice explores how digital tech and data could help address the NHS elective care backlog in 2021 and beyond. The repercussions of […]
IoMT Is Improving Patient Access: We Must Avoid Creating New Barriers
Heidi Sveistrup, CEO at Bruyère Research Institute Elza Seregelyi, Director at L-SPARK The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is changing the face of healthcare and […]
Enabling new models of care: pursuing pharma’s partnership potential
There is a huge, ongoing shift in how health and wellness is approached in the UK, and the changes will have important implications for NHS-industry […]
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is third approved in UK
The UK has approved the Moderna coronavirus vaccine, hard on the heels of its go-ahead in Europe, although supplies are not expected to arrive for […]
IL-6 drugs do work in COVID-19, says UK, as it plans NHS use
New data means that IL-6 drugs from Roche and Sanofi that had been all-but written off as coronavirus therapies will now be offered routinely to […]
Resourceful or risky? The UK’s controversial COVID-19 vaccine strategy
As COVID-19 vaccines are hastily deployed in the UK for priority groups, a debate rages over the government’s controversial strategy to delay time between vaccine […]
UK vaccine minister vows ‘massive uplift’ in number of jabs this week
Nadhim Zahawi says ‘absolute focus’ is to get 13.9 million people inoculated by mid-February Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The UK […]
Analysis: is it wise for England to mix and match Covid vaccines?
US experts warn against plan to give different second jab if supplies run low Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The UK […]
How is the Oxford Covid vaccine being deployed in England?
With jab to be administered to public for first time, we look at key questions about its rollout Coronavirus – latest updates See all our […]
Vulnerable should all get COVID-19 shot before summer, says NHS chief
NHS England’s chief executive Sir Simon Stevens has said that all vulnerable people over the age of 50 will be offered a COVID-19 vaccine by […]
NHS doctors ‘scrabbling’ to get vaccine amid alarm at Covid variant
Many medics ‘frustrated’ about low priority given to frontline staff at high risk of infection Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Frontline […]
Health inequalities: A societal challenge that needs a cross-sector solution
COVID-19 has laid the UK’s health inequalities bare and created an imperative for the NHS to develop a step-change in how it cares for diverse […]
NHS told not to give Pfizer vaccine to extreme allergy sufferers after two people have reaction
Anyone scheduled to receive vaccine will be asked about history of allergic reactions Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Regulators have issued […]
Covid vaccine arrives in UK hospitals ready for first jabs
Medical director warns of great hurdles in largest vaccination campaign in UK history Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Batches of the […]
Covid-19 vaccine ‘very safe and highly effective’, UK health chief says
Vaccine safety message ‘vitally important’, head of medicines regulator tells Andrew Marr Show Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Public health messaging […]
Navigating the NHS as a digital start-up
We speak to finalists from the Greater Manchester Future of Health accelerator to find out how digital start-ups can overcome the challenges small companies face […]
Zebra Medical Vision to Co-Develop AI-Based Models for Osteoporosis Early Detection & Prevention
What You Should Know: – Zebra Medical Vision, the deep-learning medical imaging analytics company, and Scottish digital transformation consultancy Storm ID were chosen to co-develop […]
Alliance and Boots donate dexamethasone to NHS
The UK’s largest medical wholesaler and pharmacy have donated half a million dexamethasone tablets to support the effort against COVID-19. Alliance Healthcare and Boots, both […]
COVID-19 lessons for how pharma should support patient advocacy
Trio Health’s Neil McGregor-Paterson asks whether the healthcare industry has paid enough attention to the patient voice during COVID-19 and looks at the many ways […]
A pivotal moment for digital health adoption
Former chief digital officer for the NHS, Juliet Bauer, is now applying her experience to the private sector through video consultation firm Livi. She shares […]
NICE says yes to Braftovi combination for colorectal cancer
Two months after rejecting Pierre Fabre’s Braftovi for a rare form of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), NICE has changed its mind, and now says the […]
Increasing patient engagement with UK clinical trials
Pharmaceutical companies often struggle to actively involve patients in the design phase of clinical trials but doing so can have huge benefits for the sustainability […]
Bridging the gap between pharma and the NHS in MS
Janette Curlis is a Multiple Sclerosis Nurse Advisor (MSNA) at Biogen, helping to support the company’s Multiple Sclerosis (MS) field teams and developing patient and […]
London’s digital health accelerator programme selects 20 new projects
DigitalHealth.London has announced the latest 20 small and medium sized businesses selected for its digital accelerator programme. The programme selects digital solutions or services with […]
After NICE okay, Scots denied access to Vifor’s Veltassa
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has ruled that there’s not enough evidence to support NHS funding of Vifor Pharma’s Veltassa for excess potassium in the […]
Report: NHS Covid-19 app failed to alert users of potential exposure
In a Thursday blog post, officials shared that the app’s “risk threshold” had been lowered to account for exposure to people when they are most […]
Deep Dive: Digital Health Innovation 2020
Most of the digital health experts we spoke to for this issue of Deep Dive made one thing clear – no one can really say […]
Price cut leads NICE to back Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Saxenda
Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda has been recommended by NICE as a treatment for obesity, ending a 10-year drought in new drug therapies for weight management. The […]
Apple Rolls Out Health Records on iPhone to the UK, Canada
Today, Apple announced the Health Records feature within the Health app is now available for users in the UK and Canada to securely view and […]
Roche working “around the clock” to tackle UK test supply problems
Supplies of swabs for coronavirus and other critical NHS tests for diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease have been threatened by a failure at […]
Roche working “around the clock” to tackle UK test supply problems
Supplies of swabs for coronavirus and other critical NHS tests for diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease have been threatened by a failure at […]
NHS coronavirus tests threatened by Roche supply chain glitch
Pharmaceutical firm reports ‘significant drop in processing capacity’ of reagents, kits and swabs Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Concerns have been […]
GSK tells UK staff: turn off Covid test-and-trace app while at work
Drugs company says infection controls at some of its sites are so secure the app is not needed Coronavirus – latest updates See all our […]
The value of good data to patients
Better patient care pathways and models of care can be leveraged from the use of data, and the ability to collate and assess this information […]
Introducing the new NIHR National Patient Recruitment Centres
The five new NIHR National Patient Recruitment Centres (NPRCs) are set to shape the future of commercial clinical trials in the UK by offering new […]
From the archives: How Boots went rogue – podcast
We are raiding the Audio Long Reads archives and bringing you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week’s […]
Why International Expansion Must Remain a Priority for Cerner, Epic, Allscripts, MEDITECH
What You Should Know: – How the top US acute EHR vendors, namely Cerner, Epic, Allscripts, and MEDITECH (+85% share of US acute market in terms of revenues), have progressed on international […]
Healthcare tech firms team up on consultation tools for GPs
Three UK companies have combined their digital health technologies into a single remote consultation service for GP surgeries combining triage, video calls, patient messaging and […]
NHS’ telemedicine ambitions approach a pivotal point
The UK government has said it is vital to adopt telemedicine across the NHS in response to COVID-19 – but is the health service ready […]
UK’s second go at a contact tracing app heads for pilot study
After ditching its home-grown attempt at a coronavirus contact-tracing app for smartphones, the UK is ready to start pilot trials of a second version based […]
NHS looks for digital pioneers to reshape services during pandemic
A fellowship programme is looking for digital pioneers to design and lead service transformation projects in England’s NHS as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. DigitalHealth.London opens […]
COVID-19 Underscores Why Certain Aspects of the American Healthcare System Should Change Forever
Irv Lichtenwald, President & CEO of Medsphere Systems Corporation In the late 1940s, the United Kingdom was busily reassembling country and what remained of the […]
UK warns drug firms to stockpile in case of Brexit disruption
Companies should ensure six weeks’ worth of drugs for end of transition period, DHSC says Pharmaceutical companies should stockpile six weeks’ worth of drugs to […]
MSD’s David Peacock on moving UK healthcare forward
David Peacock has worked across the world for MSD and other companies, and has now taken the helm of MSD’s UK & Ireland operations. In […]
UK should ramp up online GP consultations, advises report
A large-scale shift towards online GP appointments could reduce no shows, save businesses up to £1.5 billion in lost employee work time, and free up […]
The Guardian view on a women’s health scandal: under the skin | Editorial
An official review of vaginal mesh and medicines in pregnancy reveals systemic weaknesses, and sexism too Greater openness about women’s bodies was one of the […]
Pelvic mesh scandal is what happens when men with power ignore women | Richard Vize
Cumberlege report is a damning reminder of how arrogant, intimidating doctors have suppressed their patients’ views Julia Cumberlege’s report into avoidable harm inflicted by the […]
Thanks to a new drug for cystic fibrosis, I can plan a future I thought I’d never have | Isabelle Jani-Friend
With the NHS deal on Kaftrio, I’m likely to live longer. This is why swift access to novel treatments is so important It’s been 15 […]
Demand for flu vaccine soars as countries plan for second Covid-19 wave
Manufacturers warn they will struggle to meet demand as governments seek to ease pressure on health services Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus […]
