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Department of Health

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that we must be careful about criticising what are described as ““me-too”” drugs? They may allow incremental improvements in terms of efficacy or dosage. In the industrial context, even where branded drugs have a degree of intellectual property protection, they can disclose further evidence of the benefits of competition, and give us a handle on what would be happening in a more competitive market. We need not rely on the National Prescribing Centre as a mechanism. We can help NICE to advance the point at which it undertakes multi-technology appraisals, and examine the cost-effectiveness for the NHS of classes of drugs taken together.