OBJECTIVES : To understand the potential impact of the U.K. Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS) on the pharmaceutical industry stakeholders, how the new agreement varies from the previous Pharmaceutical Pricing Regulation Scheme (PPRS), and what these changes will mean for improving access to medicines for patients.

METHODS : We conducted a review of the VPAS policy paper and compared the changes to the previous PPRS. We reviewed news articles and opinion pieces from industry stakeholders (N=17 from industry and regulatory bodies to date), documenting key opinions and possible implications for the future.

RESULTS : Overall, the response to the new policy has been largely positive, especially from government officials. Despite some caution expressed by industry commentators, the VPAS has been adopted by 172 companies, representing over 85% of all NHS spend on branded drugs. Sources agree that medicines will be made available on the NHS more quickly than under the current scheme, with faster appraisals by NICE. However, the industry is expected to pay for the expansion in NICE appraisal capacity, and believes the change may disincentivise development of medicines for rare diseases. Companies will also be required to offer the same deal across all of the U.K.’s devolved nations, which may contribute to faster uptake of a given medicine. Finally, under the VPAS the annual cap on the growth of branded medicines sales to the NHS will be increased to 2%, with any overspend repaid by pharmaceutical companies as a rebate based on net sales. This change is seen as a win for the industry given that under the previous PPRS, growth was capped at an average of 1.1%.

CONCLUSIONS : The first operational review will determine success factors for the VPAS and will take place in June 2019, further reviews will occur every 6 months thereafter.