Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps NICE will take in its review into its methods and processes to review the (a) appraisal process and (b) pricing mechanisms for future cell and gene therapies.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently reviewing its methods and process for technology appraisals and highly specialised technologies. This will include the methods and processes for specific types of technologies such as cell and gene therapies. NICE plans to engage with partners (including industry and patient groups involved with cell and gene therapies) throughout 2019 and 2020.

NICE has set up groups made up of academics, patients, life sciences industry and system partners that will use their collective expertise to help shape the process and methods for cell and gene therapies. A dedicated patient working group has been set up to ensure NICE gets feedback from patients and patient organisations (including those that would benefit from cell and gene therapies). Proposals will also be presented for six weeks of formal public consultation in the summer of 2020.

The development of pricing mechanisms for future cell and gene therapies is undertaken by NHS England’s Commercial Medicines Directorate. NICE’s Commercial Liaison Team enables appropriate translation of NICE Committee decision-making to NHS England’s Commercial Medicines Directorate, but does not have a role in the development of the pricing mechanisms.