Words by Isabel O’Brien
The NHS has made commendable progress in introducing advanced therapies, but it must accelerate preparations for a new wave of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), according to a recent report by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). The report, titled ‘Unlocking access to future ATMPs in the UK: Comparing international approaches’, urges the NHS and its partners to adapt to the rapidly expanding pipeline of these cutting-edge treatments.
ATMPs, which include cell and gene therapies, have shown transformative potential, offering hope for diseases previously considered untreatable. The NHS has already rolled out these therapies for rare conditions such as haemophilia, spinal muscular atrophy and certain types of hereditary blindness, providing life-altering benefits with just a single treatment. However, with ATMPs poised to target more prevalent conditions, such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease, the healthcare system will need to rethink its approach to managing and funding these high-cost therapies.
Richard Torbett, Chief Executive, ABPI, highlighted the long-term benefits of ATMPs, which could reduce the overall burden on the NHS. “We should think about health spending as an investment. We need to take a long-term view of the value and cost-effectiveness of medicines, looking not just at the upfront costs, but at the lasting outcomes we want over years and decades,” he said. He emphasised the need for innovative payment models that align costs with patient outcomes.
The report also notes that while the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) currently approves around two ATMPs per year, this figure could rise to as many as 15 annually by 2030. The number of patients who could benefit from these therapies is expected to quadruple by 2028 as well, underscoring the urgent need for the NHS to adapt.
A significant challenge identified by the report is the uncertainty surrounding the long-term benefits of ATMPs. Clinical trials, typically short-term, leave bodies like the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) grappling with how to assess the long-term value of these treatments. To address this, the report recommends that NICE be allowed to use a lower discount rate in evaluating ATMPs, reflecting their long-term benefits more accurately. Currently, NICE applies a 3.5% discount rate, but a reduction to 1.5% – as proposed in 2022 – could make a substantial difference in the assessment of new treatments.
Industry leaders echoed the call for change. Peter Wickersham, General Manager UK/Ireland, and Vice President, Gilead, said: “The ABPI report highlights some critical changes which will help to ensure that we are fit for the next five years of CAR-T therapy and beyond, which would be a win for UK patients.” And Eduardo Cabas, General Manager, CSL Behring UK/Ireland, emphasised: “Much more will need to be done to ensure that an increasing number of patients can benefit fully from these innovations and for the UK to maintain its position as a global leader in life sciences.”
As the UK braces for the influx of ATMPs, the ABPI’s report serves as a crucial roadmap, outlining the steps needed to fully unlock the potential of these therapies and ensure they are accessible to all who could benefit.
