The UK Government has announced the launch of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) investment programme, with up to £400m investment to strengthen clinical trials.
The joint public-private investment programme will channel investments into the nation's health and life sciences sector for the next five years.
This initiative is set to offer National Health Service (NHS) patients earlier access to new treatments and enhance the UK’s health research capabilities.
It will establish 18 new clinical trial hubs to expedite the development of new medicines for patients.
By optimising processes, the programme will ensure that new therapies rapidly transition from laboratories to hospital wards, granting patients quicker access to new treatments.
A substantial 75% of the investment will be allocated to increasing the UK’s capacity for commercial clinical trials.
This will include the creation of up to 18 new commercial research delivery centres (CRDCs) across the four nations, enhancing the infrastructure for commercial trials and supporting participant recruitment.
In addition, with the new funding, researchers will gain access to advanced equipment and technology, enabling the design of innovative trials across various care settings.
Approximately 20% of the funding will be used for sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing initiatives.
The remaining 5% of the investment will focus on modernising Health Technology Assessment (HTA) processes to assess the cost and clinical effectiveness of new therapy options.
This will include support for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) HTA Innovation Laboratory and the development of a new horizon scanning database, UK Pharmascan, which provides information on forthcoming therapies, benefitting both patients and the health system.
The VPAG is a voluntary agreement between the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), and NHS England.
UK Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This private investment is a significant vote of confidence in the UK and will fast-track the next generation of treatments to NHS patients.
“It will enhance the UK’s global competitiveness and transform the country into the epicentre of health research, supporting an NHS fit for the future.
“By cutting waiting lists and fixing our NHS, we can make it an engine for growth and build the healthy society needed for a healthy economy.”
