Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG)

NHS Research Scotland (NRS) is a key partner working to support the clinical research ambitions set out in the 2024 Voluntary scheme for branded medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG)

This agreement between the UK Government and ABPI includes an investment programme across the four UK nations to strengthen delivery of commercial clinical trials.

In Scotland, this will be achieved by expanding existing dedicated commercial clinical research infrastructure, and by increasing workforce capacity and resources.

VPAG builds on the 2021 UK-wide vision for the future of clinical research delivery Saving and Improving Lives: The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery and the 2023 Lord O’Shaughnessy Review.

The four UK Nations have already taken significant measures to reduce commercial trial set up and approval timelines, including standard contracts and the implementation of the UK-wide National Contract Value Review. The participation of NRS in the VPAG investment programme will further improve the visibility, efficiency and delivery of commercial research in NHS Scotland for the benefit of Scottish patients, the NHS and the Scottish economy.

VPAG in Scotland

Through VPAG, NRS will build on the existing strengths of Scotland’s clinical research support infrastructure to provide a globally competitive “once for Scotland” delivery network for commercial trials. This coordinated national system will be developed alongside the existing clinical research infrastructure to enhance the efficient and sustainable commercial trial delivery network for Scotland.

Delivery will be through regional teams in the four nodal boards:

VPAG in Scotland will be overseen by the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of the Scottish Government and the NRS Management Board, coordinated nationally through the NRS Central Management Team, working in collaboration with the NRS Networks and Specialty Groups.

CSO has also convened a Scottish VPAG Advisory Board to monitor the delivery and impact of developments on clinical research activity and provide advice to help maximise the benefits from the VPAG clinical trials investment in Scotland.

The Board is formed of::

Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak (Chair), Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist for Health, and Regius Professor of Medicine, University of Glasgow
Professor Kerenza Hood, Professor of Trials and Dean of Research & Innovation for the College of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Cardiff University
Dr Malcolm Skingle, retired Director of Academic Liaison, GSK
Professor Alison Strath, Scottish Government’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer
Dr Janet Valentine, Executive Director of Innovation and Research Policy, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
Dr Louise Wood, Chair of the Council of Trustees of the Association Of Medical Research Charities.

Investments in Scotland

Investments in Scotland will be in three key areas:

Four Integrated Scottish Commercial Research Delivery Centres (IS-CRDCs) operating under a three-tier Hub and spoke delivery model – national, regional, local. This model will span the whole of Scotland including primary and community care and help improve opportunities for underserved and hard to reach populations
Dedicated and trained staff with protected time to increase the number of investigators, the research delivery expertise and capacity in commercial research across Scotland
Enhanced National trial support for feasibility assessment, participant identification, remote consent, local delivery and remote follow up

Activity will develop in two phases:

Phase one will involve the creation of dedicated space, infrastructure, staff, and models to effectively deliver commercial research within the four newly created IS-CRDCs located in Grampian, Tayside, Lothian and Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Phase two will involve dedicated funding for IS-CRDCs to use a hub and spoke model to further develop connections, including staff and infrastructure, between major centres of research activity in nodal teaching hospitals with local general hospitals and community care in across NHS Scotland. Funding will also be used to enhance feasibility assessments and identification of suitable participants for individual commercial trials

Further information will be added as the project develops. Questions or comments can be directed to the NRS Enquiries inbox, with local queries being directed towards the relevant contacts in NHS Grampian, NHS Lothian, NHS Tayside and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

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