OBJECTIVES

: Since its inception in 2018, the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) has supported uptake of its first “rapid uptake products” (RUPs) across 7 technology areas, aiming to improve NHS access to innovation. However, formal RUP selection criteria are vague, leading to uncertainty regarding the AAC’s priorities. Our research aims to identify common characteristics of the first RUPs, in order to understand factors influencing their selection.

METHODS

: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance and resource impact reports were analysed for each RUP. Innovative characteristics were extracted; clinical factors included efficacy, safety, quality of life (QoL), lack of alternatives, and care pathway impact, while economic factors included healthcare resource use (HRU) impact and cost effectiveness.

RESULTS

: The 7 technologies received positive NICE guidance between 2014 and 2017, and include 3 therapeutic interventions (2 drugs, 1 device) and 4 diagnostic technologies (1 digital software, and 3 assays). Clinically, 5 demonstrated improved efficacy and at least equivalent safety vs. comparators, 1 showed equivalent safety and efficacy, and 1 showed reduced efficacy but improved safety. Improved QoL and lack of alternative therapies were drivers in only 2 and 1 technologies respectively. Economically, 2 were expected to generate annual HRU savings of >£7m within 5 years of full implementation, 5 had potential to generate unquantified savings, and 2 were expected to have no significant net HRU impact. Most savings related to care pathway efficiencies, with the exception of cladribine, where reduced drug acquisition costs also contributed.

CONCLUSIONS

: Improving care pathways with the aim of generating long-term HRU savings would appear to have been a key priority for the first iteration of the AAC’s RUPs. However, with the recent expanded remit of the AAC, along with feedback from industry, it will be interesting to see whether broader priorities are considered in future RUP selection.