One effect of Brexit is that the UK’s National Institute for Biological Standards and Control will have additional responsibilities from next year in terms of the independent batch testing and release of products such as vaccines and medicines derived from human blood and plasma in Great Britain.

With the number of COVID-19 cases continuing to rise across Europe, the European Commission executive has published a set of actions to be taken at EU and national level to ensure future vaccines are allocated fairly, targeted at priority populations, and labeled in a way that increases production capacity, reduces transport costs and improves distribution.

A consultation on plans for the early availability of coronavirus vaccines drew almost 192,000 responses, including a number of concerns to which the government has now responded. 

The health technology assessment bodies for England and Scotland have this week issued positive recommendations on the funding of several innovative new medicines on the National Health Service, including products for myeloma, kidney cancer and multiple sclerosis.

Proposals from NICE that are out for consultation are intended to boost the HTA body’s efficiency, improve transparency and governance, and raise the quality of its guidance.

Proposals from NICE now under consultation are intended to boost the health technology assessment body’s efficiency, improve transparency and governance, and raise the quality of its guidance.