Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to increase funding for research into new drugs and treatments for epidermolysis bullosa.

The Department funds research into rare diseases, such as epidermolysis bullosa (EB), through the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including rare diseases such as EB. In the last five years, the NIHR has funded two studies into EB with a total award value of £3,022,759. In the last five years, the NIHR has also supported the delivery of over 25 studies relating to EB via its infrastructure.

NHS England is aware that several innovative treatments for EB are in trials or being considered by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Should these treatments receive a positive recommendation by NICE, NHS England will ensure that service provision is in place.