Overview

• Officials briefed the White House this week on proposals centered on lifting NICE’s cost‑effectiveness threshold by roughly 25%, which would allow more expensive drugs onto the NHS at higher overall cost.
• The government says discussions with the US are at an advanced stage, though it remains unclear whether Washington will accept the plan or how any change would be implemented.
• A funding row has opened inside government, with the Treasury resisting new money as Health Secretary Wes Streeting seeks options to cover what could be a multibillion‑pound increase.
• Several major drugmakers have paused or cancelled UK projects this year, including MSD halting a planned £1bn London research center and AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly delaying investments.
• Health economists and the Nuffield Trust warn a higher threshold could reduce net population health by diverting NHS resources, while industry groups push for an even larger increase and NICE stresses that spending decisions rest with ministers.