Novartis’ early collaboration with NICE key to rapid response on Luxturna

In one of NICE’s fastest draft recommendations for a new therapy on the NHS, the HTA found gene therapy Luxturna from Novartis to be cost-effective to treat a rare genetic retinal disorder. Novartis’ offer of a discount early on helped speed the review, which took only 20 weeks rather than the typical 38 weeks.

The draft decision came eight weeks faster than it did for the first gene therapy to receive a positive recommendation, Strimvelis from Orchard Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ:ORTX). ...