Biological medicines are among the biggest drivers of hospital medicines spend. With major products coming off patent, NHS England is pushing a “best value first” approach.

NHS England’s horizon scanning indicates around £1.4 billion of biologics spending is linked to medicines losing patent protection by 2028 - and therefore a timely move to best-value options could deliver up to £1 billion in potential savings. 

Accelerating the adoption of best value biologics, including biosimilars, ensures appropriate treatments are easily accessible to patient, services and systems. The ability to widen access by saving money and releasing capacity to focus on adopting the next wave of innovation.

In this edition of Soundbites from the NHS, Senior Principal Consultant Jyoti Singh is joined by Bhavana Reddy to discuss biologics and NHS England’s national strategy in action. Bhavana Reddy is part of the NHS England team leading on this and is Head of Pharmacy and Clinical Support at NHS England in the Medicines Value and Access Team.
 

1. Introduction: Driving value through biologics - The NHS England's national strategy in action

2. What is the role of biologics?
 

3. Implementing the best value biologic strategy?
 

4. What are the key metrics of success?
 

5. What mechanisms are in place for consistency?
 

6. Examples of successful implementation and national challenges
 

7. How are you prioritising better access?
 

8. How do you move biologic care and administration out hospital?
 

9. How do you engage with industry partners while ensuring NHS priorities and affordability are maintained?
 

10. How is NHS England preparing for patent expiry's new biosimilars?
 

11. What digital tools are being used to support adoption?
 

12. What are the implications of a single national formulary?
 

13. What are the savings opportunities?