Eli Lilly threatens NHS to delay new Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and schizophrenia drugs

[Guest guest]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/rosa-prince/8174456/NHS-reforms-could-see-patients-miss-out-on-groundbreaking-drugs-to-cure-Alzheimers-Parkinsons.html

NHS reforms could see patients miss out on groundbreaking

drugs to cure Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s

A leading drug company is threatening to delay the

introduction of groundbreaking treatment for Alzheimer’s,

Parkinson’s and schizophrenia in response to the Government’s

planned NHS reforms.

During a meeting in July, Eli Lilly, one of the biggest

providers of drugs to the NHS, warned that plans for

“value-based pricing” would involve significantly higher costs

and greater bureaucracy for pharmaceutical firms.

Under reforms due to be introduced in the NHS, companies

would be paid for drugs according to the benefit to patients

and other factors such as whether the medicine is innovative

or particularly effective.

Firms say this will remove the incentive for them to invest

in research unless they are certain of the product’s likely

success.

Other NHS reforms will give far greater power to order

drugs to GPs, with groups of local doctors’ consortia formed

to replace existing Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), which are

due to be abolished.

Pharmaceutical companies say that having to deal with

several thousand GP commissioning consortia will cost far

more in time and money than liaising with the 145 regional

PCTs which currently control the £100 billion annual NHS

drug budget.

There are also disputed claims that the National Institute

for Clinical Excellence (Nice) will lose its power to

negotiate with firms if GPs take on more responsibility for

their own budgets.

According to minutes of the meeting held between Eli Lilly

and Department of Health officials obtained under the

Freedom of Information Act, the firm warned that the reforms

may lead to delays in introducing drugs.

Rick Ascroft, director of corporate affairs at Lilly UK,

who attended the meeting, confirmed that ministers were told

that their reforms could have the opposite affect to that

intended.

He said: “Just by having a price negotiation it could lead

to delays in access versus the current approach.

“While the goal of the system is to improve access, at

least up front it may actually do the opposite.”

Among the cures currently being researched by Eli Lilley

are medicines to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases,

as well as schizophrenia drugs and innovative new medicines

to provide pain relief.

The company, which spends an average of £300 million

researching each new drug, currently supplies the NHS with

medicines to treat diabetes, bipolar disorder, cancer, heart

disease, and stomach complaints.

News of the firm’s warning came as it emerged that Oliver

Letwin, the Cabinet Office Minister who oversees policy for

the Government, had been asked to over see the reform plans,

amid concern in Downing Street and the Treasury about their

implementation.

Publication of the NHS Bill, which contains radical

measures drawn up by Lansley, the Health Secretary,

to hand up to 80 per cent of the NHS budget to the GP

consortia, has been delayed until next month.

Healey, the shadow health secretary, said: "

Cameron trusted Lansley to stop health policy

becoming a toxic issue, but he’s led the Government into a

barrage of concern from patients, doctors and health

experts.”

At present, drug companies receive money under the terms of

the pharmaceutical pricing system, under which they submit

evidence to justify prices they set themselves, but the

current contract is due to expire in 2014.

The value-based pricing scheme is designed to ensure that

NHS money is targeted on products which show the greatest

benefits.

It is unclear who will decide the amount paid to firms for

each drug in future.

Dillon, the chief executive of Nice, said that the

organisation would be keen to take on the role. He said:

“That is where our expertise is, it makes sense for us to

carry on doing that.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "We will

introduce a new system of value-based pricing which will

make effective treatments affordable to the NHS.

"Our plans will ensure licensed and effective drugs are

available to NHS clinicians and patients."

[Guest guest]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/rosa-prince/8174456/NHS-reforms-could-see-patients-miss-out-on-groundbreaking-drugs-to-cure-Alzheimers-Parkinsons.html

NHS reforms could see patients miss out on groundbreaking

drugs to cure Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s

A leading drug company is threatening to delay the

introduction of groundbreaking treatment for Alzheimer’s,

Parkinson’s and schizophrenia in response to the Government’s

planned NHS reforms.

During a meeting in July, Eli Lilly, one of the biggest

providers of drugs to the NHS, warned that plans for

“value-based pricing” would involve significantly higher costs

and greater bureaucracy for pharmaceutical firms.

Under reforms due to be introduced in the NHS, companies

would be paid for drugs according to the benefit to patients

and other factors such as whether the medicine is innovative

or particularly effective.

Firms say this will remove the incentive for them to invest

in research unless they are certain of the product’s likely

success.

Other NHS reforms will give far greater power to order

drugs to GPs, with groups of local doctors’ consortia formed

to replace existing Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), which are

due to be abolished.

Pharmaceutical companies say that having to deal with

several thousand GP commissioning consortia will cost far

more in time and money than liaising with the 145 regional

PCTs which currently control the £100 billion annual NHS

drug budget.

There are also disputed claims that the National Institute

for Clinical Excellence (Nice) will lose its power to

negotiate with firms if GPs take on more responsibility for

their own budgets.

According to minutes of the meeting held between Eli Lilly

and Department of Health officials obtained under the

Freedom of Information Act, the firm warned that the reforms

may lead to delays in introducing drugs.

Rick Ascroft, director of corporate affairs at Lilly UK,

who attended the meeting, confirmed that ministers were told

that their reforms could have the opposite affect to that

intended.

He said: “Just by having a price negotiation it could lead

to delays in access versus the current approach.

“While the goal of the system is to improve access, at

least up front it may actually do the opposite.”

Among the cures currently being researched by Eli Lilley

are medicines to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases,

as well as schizophrenia drugs and innovative new medicines

to provide pain relief.

The company, which spends an average of £300 million

researching each new drug, currently supplies the NHS with

medicines to treat diabetes, bipolar disorder, cancer, heart

disease, and stomach complaints.

News of the firm’s warning came as it emerged that Oliver

Letwin, the Cabinet Office Minister who oversees policy for

the Government, had been asked to over see the reform plans,

amid concern in Downing Street and the Treasury about their

implementation.

Publication of the NHS Bill, which contains radical

measures drawn up by Lansley, the Health Secretary,

to hand up to 80 per cent of the NHS budget to the GP

consortia, has been delayed until next month.

Healey, the shadow health secretary, said: "

Cameron trusted Lansley to stop health policy

becoming a toxic issue, but he’s led the Government into a

barrage of concern from patients, doctors and health

experts.”

At present, drug companies receive money under the terms of

the pharmaceutical pricing system, under which they submit

evidence to justify prices they set themselves, but the

current contract is due to expire in 2014.

The value-based pricing scheme is designed to ensure that

NHS money is targeted on products which show the greatest

benefits.

It is unclear who will decide the amount paid to firms for

each drug in future.

Dillon, the chief executive of Nice, said that the

organisation would be keen to take on the role. He said:

“That is where our expertise is, it makes sense for us to

carry on doing that.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "We will

introduce a new system of value-based pricing which will

make effective treatments affordable to the NHS.

"Our plans will ensure licensed and effective drugs are

available to NHS clinicians and patients."

[Guest guest]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/rosa-prince/8174456/NHS-reforms-could-see-patients-miss-out-on-groundbreaking-drugs-to-cure-Alzheimers-Parkinsons.html

NHS reforms could see patients miss out on groundbreaking

drugs to cure Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s

A leading drug company is threatening to delay the

introduction of groundbreaking treatment for Alzheimer’s,

Parkinson’s and schizophrenia in response to the Government’s

planned NHS reforms.

During a meeting in July, Eli Lilly, one of the biggest

providers of drugs to the NHS, warned that plans for

“value-based pricing” would involve significantly higher costs

and greater bureaucracy for pharmaceutical firms.

Under reforms due to be introduced in the NHS, companies

would be paid for drugs according to the benefit to patients

and other factors such as whether the medicine is innovative

or particularly effective.

Firms say this will remove the incentive for them to invest

in research unless they are certain of the product’s likely

success.

Other NHS reforms will give far greater power to order

drugs to GPs, with groups of local doctors’ consortia formed

to replace existing Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), which are

due to be abolished.

Pharmaceutical companies say that having to deal with

several thousand GP commissioning consortia will cost far

more in time and money than liaising with the 145 regional

PCTs which currently control the £100 billion annual NHS

drug budget.

There are also disputed claims that the National Institute

for Clinical Excellence (Nice) will lose its power to

negotiate with firms if GPs take on more responsibility for

their own budgets.

According to minutes of the meeting held between Eli Lilly

and Department of Health officials obtained under the

Freedom of Information Act, the firm warned that the reforms

may lead to delays in introducing drugs.

Rick Ascroft, director of corporate affairs at Lilly UK,

who attended the meeting, confirmed that ministers were told

that their reforms could have the opposite affect to that

intended.

He said: “Just by having a price negotiation it could lead

to delays in access versus the current approach.

“While the goal of the system is to improve access, at

least up front it may actually do the opposite.”

Among the cures currently being researched by Eli Lilley

are medicines to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases,

as well as schizophrenia drugs and innovative new medicines

to provide pain relief.

The company, which spends an average of £300 million

researching each new drug, currently supplies the NHS with

medicines to treat diabetes, bipolar disorder, cancer, heart

disease, and stomach complaints.

News of the firm’s warning came as it emerged that Oliver

Letwin, the Cabinet Office Minister who oversees policy for

the Government, had been asked to over see the reform plans,

amid concern in Downing Street and the Treasury about their

implementation.

Publication of the NHS Bill, which contains radical

measures drawn up by Lansley, the Health Secretary,

to hand up to 80 per cent of the NHS budget to the GP

consortia, has been delayed until next month.

Healey, the shadow health secretary, said: "

Cameron trusted Lansley to stop health policy

becoming a toxic issue, but he’s led the Government into a

barrage of concern from patients, doctors and health

experts.”

At present, drug companies receive money under the terms of

the pharmaceutical pricing system, under which they submit

evidence to justify prices they set themselves, but the

current contract is due to expire in 2014.

The value-based pricing scheme is designed to ensure that

NHS money is targeted on products which show the greatest

benefits.

It is unclear who will decide the amount paid to firms for

each drug in future.

Dillon, the chief executive of Nice, said that the

organisation would be keen to take on the role. He said:

“That is where our expertise is, it makes sense for us to

carry on doing that.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "We will

introduce a new system of value-based pricing which will

make effective treatments affordable to the NHS.

"Our plans will ensure licensed and effective drugs are

available to NHS clinicians and patients."

[Guest guest]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/rosa-prince/8174456/NHS-reforms-could-see-patients-miss-out-on-groundbreaking-drugs-to-cure-Alzheimers-Parkinsons.html

NHS reforms could see patients miss out on groundbreaking

drugs to cure Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s

A leading drug company is threatening to delay the

introduction of groundbreaking treatment for Alzheimer’s,

Parkinson’s and schizophrenia in response to the Government’s

planned NHS reforms.

During a meeting in July, Eli Lilly, one of the biggest

providers of drugs to the NHS, warned that plans for

“value-based pricing” would involve significantly higher costs

and greater bureaucracy for pharmaceutical firms.

Under reforms due to be introduced in the NHS, companies

would be paid for drugs according to the benefit to patients

and other factors such as whether the medicine is innovative

or particularly effective.

Firms say this will remove the incentive for them to invest

in research unless they are certain of the product’s likely

success.

Other NHS reforms will give far greater power to order

drugs to GPs, with groups of local doctors’ consortia formed

to replace existing Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), which are

due to be abolished.

Pharmaceutical companies say that having to deal with

several thousand GP commissioning consortia will cost far

more in time and money than liaising with the 145 regional

PCTs which currently control the £100 billion annual NHS

drug budget.

There are also disputed claims that the National Institute

for Clinical Excellence (Nice) will lose its power to

negotiate with firms if GPs take on more responsibility for

their own budgets.

According to minutes of the meeting held between Eli Lilly

and Department of Health officials obtained under the

Freedom of Information Act, the firm warned that the reforms

may lead to delays in introducing drugs.

Rick Ascroft, director of corporate affairs at Lilly UK,

who attended the meeting, confirmed that ministers were told

that their reforms could have the opposite affect to that

intended.

He said: “Just by having a price negotiation it could lead

to delays in access versus the current approach.

“While the goal of the system is to improve access, at

least up front it may actually do the opposite.”

Among the cures currently being researched by Eli Lilley

are medicines to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases,

as well as schizophrenia drugs and innovative new medicines

to provide pain relief.

The company, which spends an average of £300 million

researching each new drug, currently supplies the NHS with

medicines to treat diabetes, bipolar disorder, cancer, heart

disease, and stomach complaints.

News of the firm’s warning came as it emerged that Oliver

Letwin, the Cabinet Office Minister who oversees policy for

the Government, had been asked to over see the reform plans,

amid concern in Downing Street and the Treasury about their

implementation.

Publication of the NHS Bill, which contains radical

measures drawn up by Lansley, the Health Secretary,

to hand up to 80 per cent of the NHS budget to the GP

consortia, has been delayed until next month.

Healey, the shadow health secretary, said: "

Cameron trusted Lansley to stop health policy

becoming a toxic issue, but he’s led the Government into a

barrage of concern from patients, doctors and health

experts.”

At present, drug companies receive money under the terms of

the pharmaceutical pricing system, under which they submit

evidence to justify prices they set themselves, but the

current contract is due to expire in 2014.

The value-based pricing scheme is designed to ensure that

NHS money is targeted on products which show the greatest

benefits.

It is unclear who will decide the amount paid to firms for

each drug in future.

Dillon, the chief executive of Nice, said that the

organisation would be keen to take on the role. He said:

“That is where our expertise is, it makes sense for us to

carry on doing that.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "We will

introduce a new system of value-based pricing which will

make effective treatments affordable to the NHS.

"Our plans will ensure licensed and effective drugs are

available to NHS clinicians and patients."