Earlier Patient Access – the UK Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS). Issue 1 (2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Connor, Daniel J.; McDonald, Keith; Lam, Siu Ping
• Is Part Of: Medicine access @ point of care. Volume 1:Issue 1(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017
• Subjects: Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) -- Medicine access -- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) -- Promising Innovative Medicine (PIM); Medicine -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.5301/maapoc.0000009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-2026

Abstract

The Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) was launched in the UK in April 2014 following a public consultation and government response, which outlined the scope of a potential scheme. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for two pivotal milestone decisions in the EAMS process: the Promising Innovative Medicine (PIM) designation and the EAMS scientific opinion, described in an EAMS public assessment report and 3 EAMS treatment protocols. In the 3 years since its launch, hundreds of patients with life-threatening or seriously debilitating conditions have benefited from EAMS medicines in a variety of mainly oncology indications. This editorial describes some of the achievements of the scheme over the past 3 years and provides insight into how the scheme may evolve over the coming years.