Global biotechnology company Amgen’s Repatha® (evolocumab) has been selected as a Rapid Uptake Product by the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced [October 23 2018].
Evolocumab is a PCSK9 inhibitor (PSCK9i) indicated in adults to reduce cardiovascular risk by lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and has been recognised by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NICE as a clinically and cost-effective option for patients [1,2] .
The ACC has identified PCSK9i’s as a group of medicines with full evidence bases, but that have not seen a strong uptake in the health service due to systematic barriers.
Chris Fox, vice president and general manager for the UK and Ireland, Amgen, said: “Amgen is delighted that evolocumab has been selected as a transformational product for inclusion in the launch of the Accelerated Access Collaborative.
“ The AAC is a unique partnership between healthcare organisations, NHS England and industry to identify breakthrough medicines, give confidence in their potential to address unmet need and get them into clinicians’ hands faster.
“We are proud to contribute to the government’s ambition of positioning the UK not only as a global life sciences destination, but also as a healthcare system that will create solutions together to make sure patients get the treatments they need.”
Derek Connolly, consultant cardiologist at Birmingham City Hospital, welcomed the announcement. “It takes determination and collaboration to establish NHS services and pathways that allow advanced therapies to be made available for eligible patients. This is especially true in areas like cardiovascular disease with PSCK9is, where long-established alternatives are so readily available.
“Today’s announcement is a clear message to NHS decision makers that systemic barriers are blocking patient access to medicines – and a real step in the right direction to doing something about it. This is a major victory for eligible patients with cardiovascular disease.”
Amgen said it was “committed to working alongside the AAC to ensure that all eligible patients can rapidly gain access to PCSK9is within the health service as a clinically and cost effective option for use”.
References
[1]Repatha ® SmPC. Amgen. 2018. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6962/smpc
[2]NICE. Evolocumab for treating primary hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia TA394. 2016. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta394
