Two new medicines in development, which could become effective therapies for patients, have been awarded Innovation Passports via the UK's Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP). This designation is given to products that may address unmet clinical needs and show potential for significant patient benefits.
The ILAP is a collaborative effort involving the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), NHS England, and UK Health Technology Assessment bodies, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
One Innovation Passport has been granted to BGB-B2033 for hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer, which affects around 7,000 new cases in the UK annually. The other passport is for neflamapimod, an investigational treatment for dementia with Lewy bodies, a condition impacting approximately three in twenty dementia patients where treatment options are limited.
These products are still in development, and their future availability will depend on evidence of safety, effectiveness, and value. The Innovation Passport allows developers to access enhanced regulatory and market access guidance, aiming to speed up patient access to innovative treatments.