A new, fast-track route into the NHS for “breakthrough” medicines and technologies has been announced by the Government in a bid to dramatically speed up the time it takes for patients to benefit from ground-breaking products for conditions such as cancer, dementia and diabetes.
From April 2018, the new Accelerated Access Pathway will mean selected products with the greatest potential to change lives could be available to patients up to four years earlier.
Commenting on the announcement Keith Thompson, CEO, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, said:
We are pleased to see the government’s announcement of the new Accelerated Access Pathway, intended to allow breakthrough medicines, such as cell and gene therapies, to get to patients quicker than ever before.
Alongside other important initiatives such as the recently announced £30m Advanced Therapy Treatment Centres and the £67m Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult manufacturing centre in Stevenage, the UK is becoming one of the best global destinations to develop, manufacture and treat patients with these lifesaving and transformative living medicines.
Keith Thompson, CEO, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult