A new MHRA and NICE aligned pathway and an improved advice service is hoping to get new medicines to patients faster and support companies to plan with more certainty.

It is anticipated that patients will receive some medicines three to six months earlier.

The announcement follows commitments in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England and Life Sciences Sector Plan for NICE and the MHRA to work together more closely to get medicines to patients sooner.

The aligned pathway will launch on 1 April and will bring NICE’s decision-making process forward to run alongside MHRA’s, resulting in decisions on licencing and value being made at the same time.

NICE and the MHRA will also launch an improved Integrated Scientific Advice service which will offer a single entry point, meeting and report, and one payment, while aligning data and scientific expectations where possible.

Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation and Safety Minister, said: "As a practising surgeon, I know how important it is that patients get access to the latest treatments as quickly as possible.

"That’s why we’re cutting red tape so safe and effective new medicines can reach NHS patients up to six months sooner and get patients back to full health earlier.

"Not only that, but this will also give companies clearer, quicker decisions - helping make the UK an even more attractive place to invest in life sciences and bring innovations to market, boosting the economy in the process."

Professor Jonathan Benger, Chief Executive of NICE, said: "The services announced today will help to bring safe, effective medicines to patients faster by aligning licencing and value assessment decisions. They will give companies predictable timelines to support effective planning, tell them what evidence is required earlier in the process and help to remove unnecessary delays.

"By working more closely with our partners at the MHRA, we can get medicines into the NHS faster, helping to improve peoples’ health, ease pressure on NHS services and support a strong life sciences industry in this country."