UK grants Innovation Passports to three new cancer and neurological treatments

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) awarded Innovation Passports to three investigational treatments for lung cancer, Huntington’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

These passports allow developers to access the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP), a unique UK system that provides coordinated support from the national health system, regulators, and health technology assessment bodies throughout the development process.

The three specific treatments include a chemical small interfering RNA (siRNA) for Huntington’s disease, a chemical small molecule oncology therapy for non-small cell lung cancer, and a chemical antisense oligonucleotide for early Alzheimer’s disease. The ILAP aims to reduce development risks and speed up patient access to new medicines by offering a single platform for collaboration between different healthcare partners. The treatments address conditions that currently have significant unmet medical needs.

Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for approximately 80 to 85% of lung cancer cases in the UK, where roughly 50,200 people receive a diagnosis annually. Additionally, the pathway supports research into Huntington’s disease, a fatal neurodegenerative condition, and Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common cause of dementia for the approximately 982,000 people living with dementia in the UK in 2024.

The MHRA stated that while these therapies have shown promise, any future availability depends on providing evidence of safety, effectiveness, and value. Developers can submit new applications for the pathway until 11 February 2027.