Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will have discussions with NICE on developing a fast track approval process for covid-19 treatments for the immuno-compromised.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations on whether all new licensed medicines, including medicines for COVID-19, should be routinely funded by the National Health Service, based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. The NICE aims, wherever possible, to publish guidance close to licensing and the NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by the NICE, normally within three months of final guidance.

The NICE has published guidance that recommends three medicines, paxlovid, xevudy, and roactemra, for the treatment of COVID-19, both in the community and for patients in hospital. This guidance ensures that patients who are at the highest risk of developing severe disease from COVID-19 have access to clinically and cost-effective treatments.

The NICE has started its appraisal of sipavibart, which has been referred to as evusheld 2.0, through its standard processes, and its Appraisal Committee will meet to consider its recommendations in October 2024. The NICE will aim to publish its guidance as close as possible to licensing.