Update and next steps following the scoping exercise for the proposed topic COVID-19 therapeutics ID4038. We carefully considered the comments from all stakeholders and were pleased that there was broad support for NICE to carry out an evaluation of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of these treatments. However, a common theme from the comments was that timing was crucial and that right now is perhaps not the right time to start a Multiple Technology Appraisal (MTA).
We acknowledge the concerns around timing, but as some stakeholders highlighted, an MTA can take more than 11 months to reach recommendations. NICE would not be able to respond quickly using its standard MTA approach if it becomes clear that guidance is required. Taking this all into account, we will be resequencing the steps of an MTA in order to start the academic work to assess the clinical evidence and develop an economic model now, without formally starting an evaluation. Developing and validating an economic model first will enable us to be much more responsive and undertake the evaluation stage and produce recommendations in a much shorter time frame.
We will not therefore be inviting stakeholder submissions at this stage. But we do intend for stakeholders to be involved in this phase of work. Firstly, we plan to hold a stakeholder information meeting in approximately 4-6 weeks time to give more information about what we are planning and for the academic group to present a protocol for how they will approach the work. Once the academic group has built the model and produced a report there will be a stakeholder consultation.
The approach outlined is broadly supported by NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care and the bodies responsible for HTA in other parts of the UK.