NICE Announces Fast-Track Approval Plans

The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) plans to fast-track recommendations for the most cost-effective new drugs.   Treatments offering exceptional value for money could be cleared for NHS use up to three months earlier than at present under the new process. This 'lighter touch' scheme would be reserved for new drugs that are likely to be particularly cost-effective, ie a cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) of no more than £10,000 ($12,500).   NICE is consulting on the planned changes until Jan. 13, 2017. The consultation document also proposes the introduction of a budget impact threshold of £20m per year to help manage the introduction of drugs that are cost-effective but have a very high price and so need special access arrangements.