UK Competition and Markets Authority publishes world first statement on combination therapies

01 January 2024

NRAS is pleased to inform you that the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has 
published a statement setting out that it will not prioritise investigations under the Competition Act 1998 into specific forms of engagement between medicine manufacturers which are carried out in good faith and aimed at making a combination therapy available to NHS patients in the UK, where certain market features are present and particular conditions are met.

This statement is the result of many years of work led by the ABPI, in collaboration with NICE and NHS England. The CMA has recognised the potential of combination therapies and has published the statement to ensure that any perceived risks of CMA enforcement are not a barrier to companies seeking in good faith to negotiate agreements that would make new combination therapies available on the NHS.  

The ABPI will be continuing to work with its members, NICE and NHS England to support access to combination therapies.