Health Secretary signals possible NHS access to new dementia medicines

Yvette Cooper, the UK Health Secretary, indicated that adjustments to NICE's cost-effectiveness guidance may enable dementia treatments, including lecanemab, to become NHS-funded. The UK granted the first European licence for lecanemab in 2024 and later approved donanemab, yet NICE initially declined both on economic grounds. Earlier this year the government lifted the value-for-money threshold by about a quarter, a change linked to a new pharmaceutical trade pact with the United States.

This is the first time NICE has altered its threshold in its 25-year history, opening the door for re-evaluation of previously rejected drugs. The NHS and Eisai are reportedly discussing ways to secure access, and a dedicated dementia tsar will be appointed to unify prevention, treatment and care strategies. Cooper also highlighted broader health priorities, such as maternity services and heat-resilient hospitals, in her new role.