Also known as: Nice, NICE
A breakthrough ovarian cancer drug, mirvetuximab soravtansine, is now available on the NHS, offering extended survival and improved quality of life. The 'biological missile' therapy targets cancer cells directly, reducing side-effects compared to standard chemotherapy. Up to 400 patients in England could benefit each year.
NICE updates type 2 diabetes guidance in England, recommending earlier use of SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists. Separately, a study finds SGLT2 inhibitors improve survival in Takotsubo syndrome patients.
EMA has initiated a rolling review of OS Therapies' OST-HER2 for preventing recurrence in fully resected pulmonary metastatic osteosarcoma. A potential conditional marketing authorization decision is expected in Q4 2026, with a confirmatory Phase 3 trial planned for Q3 2026 in Australia.
The UK is offering £20 million through Innovate UK to develop medicines, devices and digital tools for drug and alcohol addiction. Awards range up to £10 million for late-stage projects and up to £1.5 million for earlier-stage innovations, with applications closing on 6 May 2026.
A review of 17 studies involving 20,342 patients found anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s drugs had “trivial” effects after 18 months and increased the risk of brain swelling and bleeding. A separate PET study suggested ARIA-E may mark brain regions with greater amyloid plaque reduction.
NICE has upheld appeals to review its guidance on Alzheimer's drugs lecanemab and donanemab, sending the decision back to committee. The manufacturers argued NICE failed to account for the treatments' wider impact on unpaid carers. This comes amid broader challenges in neurodegenerative disease research following recent high-profile clinical trial failures.
New NICE guidance recommends offering SGLT-2 inhibitors earlier in type 2 diabetes treatment, potentially preventing 17,000 deaths over three years while saving the NHS £560 million through generic medicines.
Private prescriptions for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in England are concentrated in affluent areas despite higher obesity rates in deprived regions. Online pharmacies face scrutiny for inadequate verification checks when dispensing these medications.
The UK and US announced a pharmaceuticals agreement featuring zero tariffs and a 25% increase in UK spending on innovative medicines. Major pharma M&A deals and regulatory reforms are reshaping the industry in early 2026.
The UK government is offering £20 million in grants through Innovate UK to develop cutting-edge medicines, medical technologies and digital tools to tackle drug and alcohol addiction, which causes around 15,000 deaths annually and costs England an estimated £47 billion each year.
