Two new medications to fight superbugs could soon be available for NHS patients in England

Date:

Share post:

Two new medications which fight drug-resistant superbugs could soon become available to NHS patients in England after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said they offered value for money.

NICE said Cefiderocol and ceftazidime–avibactam will be the first antimicrobial drugs to be made available as part of a subscription-style payment model that incentivises research and development of antimicrobials by testing new approaches to evaluating and paying for them.

As part of part of a project with the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care, the new payment model is designed to address the growing threat posed by antimicrobial resistance — a serious global problem — which develops when the pathogens that cause infection evolve to make antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs less effective or stop them from working altogether.

The two new medications, approved in draft guidelines from NICE published today (April 12), will help patients with urinary tract infections, pneumonia and sepsis.

NHS commercial medicines director Blake Dark said: “This is an important step in our world-leading approach to incentivise innovation in antimicrobial drugs and the battle against drug-resistant infections.

“The NHS will now use its commercial power to secure deals that will enable NHS patients to benefit from these treatments, delivering on its Long Term Plan commitment and paving the way for a pipeline of future treatment options.”

NICE will issue final guidance once discussions between the NHS and the drug manufacturers have concluded.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Current Issue October 2023

Related articles

England lost more than 1,000 pharmacies in the last eight years, says CCA

Community pharmacies are currently facing a worrying mix of funding, workforce, and workload pressures The Company Chemists’ Association...

NHS care delays led to 112 deaths, harmed 8,000 people in England last year

The number of patients dying due to care delays have risen more than fivefold over the last three...

Whitworth Chemists puts six high-dispensing Blackpool pharmacies up for sale

The family-owned business has decided to sell all 34 pharmacies across the North of England Whitworth Chemists Limited...

Babies born with Wolman disease can now receive a life-saving treatment on the NHS

The new enzyme replacement therapy improves patient’s life expectancy and quality of life in clinical trials   For the first...