Over the lifetime of the NIHR Innovation Observatory contract (2017 – present), we have delivered 3,063 early intelligence outputs to support NICE’s early awareness, prioritisation, and appraisal activity. This comprises 1,512 technology briefings delivered across nine financial years, and 1,551 filtration outputs produced between Year 1 and Year 6, demonstrating both the scale and consistency of the Innovation Observatory’s contribution (see yearly breakdown below). Delivery has remained high throughout the contract period, reflecting the Innovation Observatory’s capacity to provide timely, quality intelligence aligned to NICE’s evolving priorities.
These briefings provide emerging, structured insight on emerging medicines and health technologies at the point where early awareness can most effectively inform system preparedness and evaluation planning. Coverage spans priority areas including oncology, women’s health, rare diseases, and advanced therapies.
Recent examples include Capivasertib with fulvestrant for advanced breast cancer, Relugolix combination therapy for endometriosis-associated pain, and Exagamglogene autotemcel for severe sickle cell disease, illustrating the breadth and policy relevance of the Observatory’s outputs.
The downstream impact of this work is evidenced through NICE guidance, including vanzacaftor–tezacaftor–deutivacaftor for cystic fibrosis, which demonstrates both the transformative potential of this treatment for children and adults and the way Innovation Observatory briefings feed directly into NICE’s decision making, supporting efficient prioritisation, timely appraisal, and evidence-informed guidance for the NHS.
In addition to this work, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Innovation Observatory supported RAPID C-19 by collating and sharing intelligence on therapeutic and prophylactic COVID-19 interventions between March 2020 and March 2023 through a dedicated scan and public dashboard, providing regular (weekly, later monthly) updates to the RAPID C-19 team and demonstrating the ability to respond rapidly to national priorities in close collaboration with NICE and system partners.
Footnotes
Capivasertib with fulvestrant for advanced breast cancer
NICE news article for Capivasertib – https://www.nice.org.uk/news/articles/approval-for-new-twice-a-day-tablet-for-advanced-breast-cancer
Innovation Observatory Technology Briefing Document (Non-Confidential version) – https://io.nihr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/29683-Capivasertib-Fulvestrant-for-Breast-Cancer-V1.0-JUN2023-NON-CONF.pdf
Relugolix combination therapy for endometriosis-associated pain
NICE news article for Relugolix – https://www.nice.org.uk/news/articles/first-daily-pill-for-endometriosis-approved-for-nhs-use
Innovation Observatory Technology Briefing Document (Non-Confidential version) – https://io.nihr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20496-Relugolix-Combination-Therapy-for-Endometriosis-Associated-Pain-V1.0-JUN-2021.-non-conf.pdf
Exagamglogene autotemcel for treating severe sickle cell disease
NICE news article for Exagamglogene autotemcel – https://www.nice.org.uk/news/articles/nice-approves-groundbreaking-one-off-gene-therapy-for-severe-sickle-cell-disease
Innovation Observatory Technology Briefing Document (Non-Confidential version) – https://io.nihr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/28065-TSID_10589-CTX001-for-Sickle-Cell-Disease-V1.0-SEP2021-NON-CONF.pdf
Vanzacaftor-tezacaftor-deutivacaftor for treating cystic fibrosis
NICE news article for Alyftrek – https://www.nice.org.uk/news/articles/new-cystic-fibrosis-drug-fast-tracked-for-nhs-use
Innovation Observatory Technology Briefing Document (Non-Confidential version) – https://www.io.nihr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/27712-Vanzacaftor-Tezacaftor-Deutivacaftor-for-Cystic-Fibrosis-V1.0-AUG2023-NON-CONF.pdf
NICE
RAPID C-19 – therapeutic and prophylactic COVID-19 interventions between March 2020 and March 2023
https://io.nihr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Medicines-Horizon-Scanning_Annual-Report_Dec-2022.pdf
