The Ethical Medicines Industry Group (EMIG) has welcomed the House of Commons Health Select Committee's inquiry into the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). This is an opportunity for the SME specialist biopharmaceutical sector to reflect on the workings of the medicines regulator, in particular its future role in supporting the new commissioning environment and how the value of innovative new medicines will be assessed.

Leslie Galloway, EMIG chairman, said, "EMIG welcomes the Health Select Committee's inquiry into the current and future role of NICE. As the negotiations to shape the future of value-based pricing get underway, now is an opportune time for the Committee to investigate how the creation of a new pricing system for innovative medicines can deliver better access to medicines for patients, drive value for money in the NHS and contribute to a flourishing life sciences sector in the U.K."

Amongst key recommendations made to the Committee, EMIG is calling for:

1. Further clarity on the shape and implications of value-based pricing
2. A transparent and consistent approach to health technology assessment
3. No additional assessment of NICE approved medicines at a local level
4. The QALY not to be the finite measure of cost-effectiveness when assessing medicines for rare and orphan conditions
5. Quality Standards must be short, focused and clear on good practice expectations  and outcomes that will be delivered for patients
6. Local organizations to be held accountable for the adoption of NICE Guidelines.

Galloway said, "EMIG fundamentally believes that value-based pricing must create an environment to stimulate patient access to medicines at the same time as supporting cutting edge pharmaceutical R&D and ensuring investment in the U.K. economy. However, many questions remain over the shape of the new scheme and, indeed, the successor PPRS. EMIG is, therefore, calling for greater clarity on the shape of value-based pricing before the impact of the new system on NICE can be fully considered."