Committee publication · Correspondence · 1 July 2026
Correspondence from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), re: Geroprotector research and patient benefit of scientific innovation, 20 March 2026
Summary
NICE responds to parliamentary inquiry on ensuring patients benefit from scientific innovation. The letter outlines integrated pathways connecting research to NHS use, including accelerated access schemes (ILAP, IDAP, EVA, NHAP), support for SMEs via discounted fees and advisory services, and evolving methods for emerging technologies like AI and gene therapies. NICE emphasises coordinated working with MHRA, NHS England, and DHSC to reduce time to market while maintaining evidence standards.
Key findings
- NICE, MHRA, NHS England and DHSC operate joined-up pathways including Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) and managed access arrangements to accelerate patient access to promising medicines while evidence is gathered.
- For HealthTech, NICE charges no fees for most evaluations; for medicines, eligible small companies receive 75% discount on cost-recovery fees. NICE Advice service can reduce evaluation timelines by around 3 months.
- Early value assessment (EVA) programme provides rapid proportionate evaluation for early-stage digital and MedTech products; National HealthTech Access Programme (NHAP) establishes single predictable national route with new NHS Commercial Centre of Excellence.
- NICE operates enhanced horizon scanning, HTA Innovation Laboratory exploring AI, real-world evidence frameworks, and methods updates to handle cell/gene therapies, diagnostics and combination products; positioned as leading HTA agency in AI adoption.
- Disruptive medicines (CAR-T, TIL therapies) and emerging HealthTech (AI devices, quantum sensing, genomics) present implementation challenges requiring new service pathways, workforce training, and post-market surveillance approaches.
Tone
SupportiveTopics
Key actors
NICE, MHRA, NHS England, DHSC, Professor Jonathan Benger, Dame Chi Onwurah, NHS Innovation Networks, Health Innovation Networks
Notable line
“NICE participates throughout, offering aligned scientific advice and horizon scanning to ensure innovators understand both regulatory and health technology assessment (HTA) evidence expectations from the outset.”
Key Quotes
“Across the life sciences system, NICE, MHRA, NHS England and DHSC work together to create a joined ‑ up pathway that supports early access to promising innovations, drives uptake of well ‑ evidenced technologies, and ensures mature technologies are reviewed so the NHS can continue investing in innovation.”
“… the MHRA – NICE Aligned Pathway delivers parallel decisions on licensing and value. By coordinating planning, evidence needs and timelines, this collaboration removes the traditional gap between marketing authorisation and NICE guidance, accelerating patient access by up to 3 to 6 months for companies that opt in.”
“Users of NICE Advice can cut around 3 months of time off the NICE evaluation timeline in medicines technology appraisals.”
“For medicines evaluations, NICE's fees are charged on a cost -recovery basis. Eligible small companies will receive a 75% discount and can choose to pay in instalments. In addition, in HealthTech (where a significant proportion of innovators are SMEs and startups) we do not charge a fee for most evaluations.”
“NICE to be the leading HTA agency in terms of AI adoption, with the world's first position statement on AI for evidence generation.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗