Overview
- U.S. Ambassador Warren Stephens said American drugmakers would cancel investments and close U.K. sites without rapid changes to NHS pricing.
- The U.K. has proposed raising the threshold used by NICE by as much as 25%, but AstraZeneca’s Pascal Soriot called the offer insufficient.
- Soriot urged higher thresholds toward £40,000–£50,000 per QALY and a substantial easing of the VPAG clawback that currently recoups about 23% of revenues.
- The Department of Health and Social Care said talks with the U.S. administration are in advanced stages as U.K. negotiators meet in Washington ahead of the late‑November budget.
- Eli Lilly said it will not restart its shelved £279 million London project without “significant and sustainable” market changes, following other paused or cancelled U.K. investments by MSD and AstraZeneca.