The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7487 p109
2 February 2008

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News summary

Programme could explore earlier access to medicines

Discussion on enabling better access to some medicines before their launch in the UK has taken place, facilitated by the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group.

A report from the forum — which met last year — says that a work programme should be commissioned to explore a new framework for providing earlier access to medicines to treat serious, chronic and debilitating or life-threatening illnesses.

But they agreed that early access should not be allowed until “a favourable profile of benefits and risks is indicated”.