England’s health technology assessment institute is exploring solutions to help deal with its increased workload, high staff turnover and challenges in recruiting people with the expertise needed.

Questions are being raised about the credibility of the UK’s voluntary and statutory drug pricing schemes because of uncertainty over the payment percentages companies will have to pay in future.

NHS England and Improvement (NHSE&I) agreed 16 pricing and access deals with drug companies in 2021, ten of which can be considered ‘smart.’ The fact that these were achieved against a backdrop of COVID-19 is seen as impressive.

If small biotech does more to plan ahead for ex-US market requirements, companies and their investors – and crucially patients – will benefit.

The UK government says it remains committed to the principle of co-creating a positive environment for the development of commercial medicines but there is concern in the life sciences sector over the revelation that companies could be made to pay as much as 26% of their sales in 2023 in rebates to the government.

Big changes are in store at UK health technology assessment body NICE aimed at improving the way medicines are assessed.