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In a landmark decision by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), pharmaceutical companies have been granted clearance to collaborate on combination therapies without the looming threat of competition law investigations. This development arrives after concerted efforts by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), NHS England, and medicine manufacturers to facilitate patient access to these innovative treatments.
Combination therapies, which integrate multiple medicines into a single treatment regimen, have shown promise in improving patient outcomes and reducing disease resistance, particularly in serious conditions like cancer. Despite their potential, collaborations between different drug firms to develop and provide these therapies have historically been hindered by concerns over competition law violations.
The CMA’s recent statement, backed by high-profile figures including Ann Pope of the CMA, Fiona Bride of NHS England, and Helen Knight of NICE, provides critical guidance on how companies can work together without fear of investigation under the Competition Act 1998. The regulatory clarity is expected to ease the process of securing positive reimbursement decisions for combination therapies, which often involve branded drugs from various companies.
This move is particularly significant given that since 2017, half of the combination cancer therapies involving branded drugs assessed by NICE were either withdrawn or not approved due to cost-effectiveness concerns. By allowing drug firms to negotiate commercial agreements with limited information exchange and without sharing confidential pricing details, the CMA aims to increase access to vital treatments within the NHS.
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