Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government why Evusheld was not referred to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) until 10 August 2022 despite the review process starting on 8 June 2022; and how timelines can be tightened in future decision making.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) wrote to the Department on 8 June 2022 requesting the referral of Evusheld for the treatment of COVID-19 for inclusion into its multiple technology appraisal on therapeutics for COVID-19. This was different and unrelated to the referral letter sent by the Department to NICE on 10 August 2022, which was for Evusheld for prophylaxis.

Following the referral, NICE has prioritised the appraisal of Evusheld for the prevention of COVID-19 and issued its draft guidance for consultation on 16 February 2023. NICE has been unable to recommend its use to protect against COVID-19 citing the lack of its clinical evidence against current variants and those likely to be circulating in the near future. Stakeholders now have until 9 March 2023 to comment on NICE’s draft recommendations.