The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has appointed Informed Solutions to lead the discovery phase for UK PharmaScan 2.0, an enhanced version of the national database that tracks early intelligence on new medicines, indications, and formulations being developed globally.
UK PharmaScan has played a critical role in NHS planning for over 13 years, providing early insight into the pharmaceutical pipeline up to three years ahead of potential UK market entry. The redevelopment has been allocated funding through the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG), with strong backing from the UK government, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), and the wider pharmaceutical industry. It forms part of a national effort to strengthen the infrastructure that supports timely and informed decision-making across the healthcare system.
The upgraded platform will better support the NHS, and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and UK Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, by delivering a single, shared approach to horizon scanning, enabling more effective and secure sharing of commercially sensitive data. It will also improve system usability, scalability, and analytical capability to help anticipate and manage the introduction of new treatments.
During the discovery phase, Informed Solutions will work closely with key stakeholders across the NHS and pharmaceutical industry to assess user needs, build on existing system strengths, and identify opportunities to leverage digital and data innovation. This includes exploring advanced analytics, integrating new data sets, and enhancing collaboration across the healthcare landscape to ensure patients continue to benefit from timely access to the most effective medicines.
Informed Solutions UK CEO, Seth Finegan comments: “We’re proud to support NICE on the transformation of UK PharmaScan, an initiative of national importance that strengthens the NHS’s ability to plan for the future of medicine. By enabling early, secure, and effective access to pharmaceutical pipeline data, the new platform will help the healthcare system respond faster to innovation and deliver better outcomes for patients.
“With deep expertise in user-centred digital design and national-scale platforms, we’re excited to help shape a modern, data-driven solution that meets the needs of NHS planners, healthcare agencies, and industry alike.”
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Programme Manager, Ian Saunders comments: “We’re delighted to be working with Informed Solutions to lead the discovery phase of UK PharmaScan 2.0. Their experience in delivering complex digital health projects, coupled with specialist exploratory skills, makes them an ideal partner for this crucial stage of the process.
“The redevelopment of UK PharmaScan marks a key step in strengthening the infrastructure that underpins early access to innovative treatments, and we look forward to working closely with Informed Solutions to help shape a smarter, more connected and collaborative approach to horizon scanning across the healthcare system.”
