Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he take steps to make available intravenous alpha-1 augmentation therapy through the NHS to treat alpha-1.

NHS England is engaging with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on the Highly Specialised Technologies evaluation of human alpha1-proteinase inhibitor for treating emphysema in adults with documented severe alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency. NICE has not yet published final guidance and recently consulted on its draft guidance.

NICE’s evaluation committee is due to meet again to consider its recommendations in spring next year. This is to enable the company that makes the alpha1-proteinase inhibitor to prepare and submit additional information for consideration by the committee. Once NICE guidance is received, NHS England will then consider the commissioning implications in consultation with the Specialised Respiratory Clinical Reference Group.