On account of Brexit, the UK is no longer subject to EU single market rules or the EU legislative framework. However, under the EU–UK Withdrawal Agreement’s Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland continues to follow EU rules, although the EU-UK Windsor Framework sets out a new legal and constitutional framework for Northern Ireland from 2025. Pre-existing domestic legislation that implemented EU law continues to have effect in the UK.

UK regulation of medicinal products derives from EU legislation, principally Directive 2001/83/EC (EU Directive 2001/83) and Regulation (EC) 726/2004 (EU Regulation). The key UK legislation is the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1916), as amended (HMRs).

Similarly, UK regulation of medical devices derives from three EU Directives (the Medical Device Directives):

• Council Directive 93/42/EEC on Medical Devices;
• Council Directive 90/385/EEC on Active Implantable Medical Devices; and
• Council Directive 98/79/EC on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices (IVDMD).

These directives are implemented in UK domestic law through the Medical Devices Regulations 2002/618, as amended (UK Medical Devices Regulations). The UK government intends to introduce new regulations for medical devices, which are to be delivered by four Statutory Instruments in 2024 and 2025.

The more recent EU Regulations on medical devices – Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices (EU MDR) and Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (EU IVDR) – do not apply to Great Britain, but do to Northern Ireland.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The MHRA has the statutory responsibility to apply and enforce laws governing pharmaceuticals and medical devices in the UK.

Decisions of the MHRA can be challenged by way of judicial review in the Administrative Court, King's Bench Division.

To this end, an application must be made promptly, and in any event within three months of the decision to be challenged, and the applicants must be able to show a sufficient interest in the matter to which the application relates.

The court's permission is required to proceed with a claim for judicial review.

The grounds for judicial review can be summarised as:

• illegality;
• irrationality;
• procedural unfairness; and
• legitimate expectation.

There are three categories, or legal classifications, of medicinal products, which determine the level of control over supply. In part, classification rests on how much healthcare professional (HCP) input is needed to diagnose and treat the conditions for which the medicine might be used. The three legal classifications are:

• prescription-only medicines (POMs) – these have to be prescribed by a doctor or other authorised HCP and have to be dispensed from a pharmacy or from another specifically licensed place;
• pharmacy (also known as P, over the counter or OTC) – these have an intermediate level of control and can be bought only from pharmacies and under a pharmacist's supervision; and
• general sales list (GSL) – these may be bought from general retail stores or vending machines.

Medical devices are given a classification depending on the level of risk associated with their use. This relates to the regulatory pathway for the product rather than the conditions on supply. How a medical device is classified will depend on factors such as:

• the intended purpose of the device;
• how long it is intended to be in use; and
• if the device is invasive/surgically invasive, is implantable or active, or contains a substance which in its own right is considered to be a medicinal substance.

General medical devices and active implantable devices fall within the following categories:

• Class I – low risk;
• Class IIa – medium risk;
• Class IIb – medium risk; and
• Class III – high risk.

In vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical devices are currently categorised differently into four main groups – namely, those which are:

• considered as general IVD medical devices;
• within the classifications stated in Annex II List A of the IVDD (which is referred to in UK legislation);
• within the classifications stated in Annex II List B of the IVDD; and
• for “self-test” intended to be used by a person at home.

The current UK law governing clinical trials of medicinal products is the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004/1031, which transposed the EU Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC into UK law, and has been amended to reflect the UK’s departure from the EU. Clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with good clinical practice (GCP), the terms of the approved protocol, clinical trial authorisation and research ethics committee (REC) approval. The EU Clinical Trials Regulation 536/2014, which came into full effect on 31 January 2022, does not apply in Great Britain but, as a result of the Northern Ireland Protocol, does apply in Northern Ireland.

The MHRA undertook a public consultation in early 2022, outlining proposals to reform UK law and guidance on clinical trials for medicinal products. The government’s response was published in March 2023 and the aim is to streamline clinical trial approvals, enable innovation, enhance clinical trial transparency, enable greater risk proportionality, and promote patient and public involvement.

Clinical investigations for medical devices are regulated by the UK Medical Devices Regulations. Requirements relating to clinical investigation under the EU MDR and the EU IVDR apply in Northern Ireland.

Before a clinical trial can commence, a REC must give a favourable opinion, and authorisation must be obtained from the MHRA. A sponsor of a clinical trial must be established in the UK or in a country on an approved country list, which includes EU/EEA countries. Otherwise, the sponsor must have a legal representative.

As of 1 January 2022, applications for all new clinical trials for investigational medicinal products must be prepared, submitted and reviewed via the combined review service – a single application route with co-ordinated review by the MHRA and the REC, leading to a single UK decision on the application. Applications must be submitted via the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS).

After receipt of a valid application, an assessment will be conducted within 30 days. Following assessment, and ordinarily within 60 days of the submission, the MHRA and the REC will either:

• accept the request;
• accept the request subject to conditions; or
• not accept the request.

The MHRA will focus on the safety and scientific value of the trial, while the REC will focus on the research proposals and review certain documents relating to the trial, including the trial protocol, the informed consent form, the suitability of the personnel, investigator and facilities, and the investigator's brochure.

The MHRA must be notified by the sponsor at least 60 days in advance of the commencement of a clinical investigation involving medical devices. Applications should be submitted via the IRAS. The MHRA will consider the documentation and assess the safety and performance of the device, as well as the design of the investigation. A letter will be sent to the sponsor within 60 days with a decision (providing either an “objection” or “no objection”). In addition, an opinion of the REC is required.

Any favourable opinion by a REC is conditional upon the clinical trial being registered on a publicly accessible database.

Since 1 January 2022, the Health Research Authority (HRA) automatically registers clinical trials submitted through IRAS with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) registry.

Information about trials (for both medicinal and devices) being conducted in the UK is made publicly available on the HRA research summaries website and on the UK “Be Part of Research” website.

In addition, the advertising code for the pharmaceutical industry published by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) requires companies to disclose details of clinical trials in accordance with international requirements.

There are no restrictions on using online tools to support clinical trials or clinical investigations. However, all advertising and all materials provided or directed to subjects will be reviewed by the REC.

Data resulting from clinical trials is likely to be considered as special category (sensitive) personal health data for the purposes of the data protection legislation, even if it is in coded/pseudonymised form, and will be afforded greater protection than non-special category personal data. The Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR provide that pseudonymisation is a security measure that can be used to protect personal data, but it does not address data beyond the scope of the UK GDPR.

The resulting data can be transferred to a third party or affiliate, provided that any UK GDPR provisions governing such a transfer are complied with.

If a database contains personal or special category (sensitive) personal health data, the UK GDPR would need to be complied with. The key requirements are as follows:

• the data is processed lawfully;
• the data stored is relevant, up to date and limited to what is required;
• sufficient security measures are put in place;
• the data is not stored for longer than is necessary; and
• the relevant individuals have been informed of the use and storage of their data.

The party managing the database would also need to comply with the UK GDPR more widely.

The HMRs define a medicinal product as:

• any substance or combination of substances presented as having properties of preventing or treating disease in human beings; or
• any substance or combination of substances that may be used by or administered to human beings with a view to:
1. restoring, correcting or modifying a physiological function by exerting a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action; or
2. making a medical diagnosis.

The UK Medical Devices Regulations define a medical device as any instrument, apparatus, appliance, software, material or other article, used alone or combined, for humans to:

• diagnose, prevent, monitor, treat or alleviate disease;
• diagnose, monitor, treat, alleviate or compensate for an injury or handicap;
• investigate, replace or modify the anatomy or a physiological process; or
• control conception.

To distinguish between medical devices and medicinal products, it is important to consider:

• the intended purpose of the product, taking into account the way the product is presented; and
• the method by which the principal intended action is achieved.

Where the assessment is not straightforward, or where disagreement arises, the MHRA's Medicines Borderline Section is able to issue determinations. Where a product falls into more than one category, a product will be classified as a medicinal product.

A medicinal product may only be placed on the UK market if it has been granted an MA. Applications must be made to the MHRA.

Biological medicinal products must meet the same quality, safety and efficacy criteria to obtain an MA as those for non-biological medicinal products. However, since biological medicinal products are especially sensitive to change in starting materials or manufacturing conditions, they are subject to specific requirements, as set out in Annex I to EU Directive 2001/83, as amended by Schedule 8B of the HMRs.

MAs for medicinal products in the UK are valid for an initial period of five years. However, an MA ceases to be valid if the product is not placed on the market within three years of the date of authorisation (known as the “sunset” clause).

The renewal application should be submitted to the MHRA six months before expiry. The authorisation may be renewed on the basis of a re-evaluation of the risk-benefit balance. Once renewed, the MA will be valid for an unlimited period, unless there are justified grounds relating to pharmacovigilance to proceed with one additional five-year renewal.

The MHRA may revoke, vary or suspend a UK MA in certain situations, including if the MHRA believes that the product is harmful or that the positive therapeutic effects of the product do not outweigh its risks to the health of patients or the public, or that the product's composition is not as described in the application for the MA or the material supplied with it.

With regard to medical devices, a UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark is valid indefinitely, and the underlying conformity assessment does not require renewal unless the specifications of the device change.

The MHRA has the power to issue various notices to manufacturers (eg, prohibition notices) to ban the supply of any goods that are considered unsafe or that do not comply with the UK Medical Devices Regulations.

Medicinal Products

An application for a UK national MA must be made to the MHRA and must include the particulars and research data or justifications for exceptions that are described in the HMRs. Following Brexit, UK MAs are split into various types, depending on the parts of the UK to which they apply.

A number of new routes have been introduced post-Brexit to allow for the quick recognition of products that are approved in the other major markets, including the EU, and to allow greater flexibility in UK procedures (such as a “rolling review” that permits the submission of an application in modules).

Applications intended to cover the marketing of a product in Northern Ireland must continue to comply with the requirements of EU Directive 2001/83 and EU Regulation 726/2004. Under the Windsor Agreement, from January 2025, applications for a UK-wide product licence can be made to the MHRA.

Medical Devices

As of 1 January 2021, there is a new route to place a device on the Great Britain market, with an accompanying mark based on the requirements derived from current EU legislation: the UKCA. EU CE marking (the acronym for the French “Conformité Européenne” or “European conformity”) will continue to be recognised in Great Britain, and certificates issued by EU-recognised Notified Bodies will continue to be valid for the Great Britain market, up to June 2030.

EU rules will continue to apply in Northern Ireland, and EU CE marking is required. In addition, if the manufacturer chooses to use a UK Notified Body for mandatory third-party conformity assessment for purposes of the Northern Ireland market, the UKNI mark must be applied in addition to the CE mark.

As previously noted, medical devices are given a classification depending on the level of risk associated with their use. Each risk classification also has a separate conformity assessment procedure. If the relevant requirements are met, the Approved Body will issue a UKCA certificate. Only UK-Approved Bodies may conduct conformity assessments in relation to a UKCA mark. They are not able to issue CE certificates other than for the purposes of the “CE UKNI” marking, which is valid in Northern Ireland.

Low-risk Class I medical devices do not need to go through a conformity assessment procedure. For all devices, once the relevant assessment has been completed successfully, the manufacturer may place a UKCA mark on their medical device and put it on the market in Great Britain.

To be placed on the Great Britain or Northern Ireland market, all devices must now be registered with the MHRA, which will only accept the registration of devices from manufacturers where the manufacturer is based in the UK. Therefore, manufacturers based outside the UK are required to appoint a UK Responsible Person that is established in the UK.

The HMRs state that a person may not sell or supply, or offer to sell or supply, an unauthorised medicinal product, or a medicinal product other than in accordance with the terms of an MA. However, the UK allows exceptions whereby a product can be placed on the market without an MA. The main exception is often called “named-patient supply” and applies if the medicinal product is:

• supplied in response to an unsolicited order;
• manufactured and assembled in accordance with the specification of a person who is authorised to prescribe; and
• for use by a patient for whose treatment that person is directly responsible in order to fulfil the special needs of that patient.

Certain conditions set out in the HMRs must also be met.

When named-patient supply of medicinal products is offered to a co-ordinated patient group, this is referred to as a “compassionate-use scheme”. However, the legislative provisions of named-patient supply continue to apply.

The Early Access to Medicines Scheme is a voluntary scheme that allows patients to access innovative unlicensed medicines earlier than the current MA procedures permit, but applies only to medicines that target life-threatening or seriously debilitating conditions for which there are no existing satisfactory treatments.

Devices that are custom-made for individual patients or intended for clinical investigation do not need a UKCA mark. Custom-made medical devices are defined as devices manufactured specifically in accordance with a duly qualified medical practitioner's written prescription that gives specific design characteristics, under their responsibility, and is intended for the sole use of a particular patient. The manufacturer of a custom-made medical device must meet the requirements of the UK Medical Devices Regulations that relate to custom-made devices.

The MHRA may also approve exceptional use of a non-compliant device on humanitarian grounds. These devices do not need a UKCA mark. A manufacturer can apply to the MHRA to supply a medical device that does not comply with the law to protect a patient's health if there is no legitimate alternative available. The same provision may be made for custom-made devices that have not complied with the standard conformity assessment procedure.

MA holders must operate a pharmacovigilance system to monitor the safety of their product’s life cycle, and to detect any change to their risk-benefit balance. They must:

• have an appropriately qualified person (QP) responsible for pharmacovigilance located in the EEA (however, where this person does not reside and operate in the UK, there will be a need for a national contact person for pharmacovigilance who resides and operates in the UK);
• maintain a pharmacovigilance master file;
• operate, monitor and update a risk management system for the product;
• record and report all suspected adverse reactions occurring in relation to their products; and
• submit periodic risk-benefit evaluation reports for their products.

The MHRA may grant an MA subject to one or more conditions, including post-marketing obligations such as the requirement to conduct post-authorisation safety and efficacy studies. The MA holder must incorporate any such condition into the risk management system for the product.

Once a medical device has been placed on the UK market, the MHRA requires the manufacturer to monitor and report to it any serious adverse incidents associated with the product. The manufacturer must also take appropriate safety action when required.

Requests for information about MAs and pending MAs for medicinal products may be submitted to the MHRA under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

The MHRA releases very little information in relation to pending applications.

Following the grant or refusal of an MA, the MHRA generally releases detailed information about the application and authorisation, both proactively via disclosures on its website and also in response to third-party information requests. The FOIA provides mechanisms whereby personal data, confidential information and commercially sensitive information may be withheld or redacted from documents requested by third parties, and the MHRA typically allows MA holders to comment on any proposed redactions prior to their release.

For medical devices, Approved Bodies are private entities. Therefore, access to information provisions that apply to public bodies do not apply. As such, both before and after UKCA marking, the information pertaining to the device remains the property of the manufacturer. Once registered with the MHRA, a manufacturer's details will be added to the Public Access Database for Medical Device Registration. Other information held by the MHRA could be requested under the FOIA, but will only be provided where no exceptions under the FOIA apply.

The EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) ceased to apply in Great Britain at the end of the transition period. As such, pharmacies in Great Britain are no longer using the UK Medicines Verification System and medicines with an MA valid only in Great Britain are not required to have a Unique Identifier or the anti-tampering device. However, the MHRA encourages companies to retain the tamper-evident device.

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, Northern Ireland continued to comply with the FMD (enforced by the MHRA). However, in light of the Windsor Agreement, from 1 January 2025, the FMD will no longer apply in Northern Ireland. This means that features included for the purposes of compliance with the FMD, eg, the Unique Identifier, must be removed.

The Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 includes a power to put in place a bespoke falsified medicines system, and a public consultation on the system is expected.

Falsified medicines should be reported to the MHRA via the Yellow Card reporting site.

The Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 consolidated and streamlined the MHRA’s enforcement powers regarding medical devices, which cover the falsification and illegal distribution of medical devices. The MHRA may issue compliance, suspension, safety and requests for information notices, as well as civil sanctions. It is a criminal offence for a manufacturer to breach a notice.

See 10. IP Other Than Patents.

A manufacturer licence issued by the MHRA is required in order to manufacture, assemble or import licensed, unlicensed or investigational medicinal products. The process involves the submission of an application and the inspection of the designated manufacturing site by the MHRA to verify compliance with good manufacturing practice (GMP). A manufacturer licence remains in force until it is revoked or surrendered.

Manufacturers of medical devices are not required to obtain a specific authorisation for the manufacture of their products, but are required to register with the MHRA in order to place the medical devices on the market in the UK. As previously noted, the MHRA will only register devices where the manufacturer or their UK Responsible Person has a registered place of business in the UK.

A wholesale distribution authorisation (WDA) issued by the MHRA is required in order to:

• sell, supply, offer for sale, procure, hold or export POM, P/OTC, traditional herbal and GSL medicines on a wholesale basis in the UK;
• import QP-certified medicinal products into Great Britain from EEA countries; and
• export medicinal products to EEA countries.

WDA holders located in Northern Ireland can still bring medicinal products into Northern Ireland from Great Britain, provided certain additional conditions are met.

The facility involved in wholesale distribution is subject to inspection by the MHRA before a licence is granted. A WDA remains in force until it is revoked or surrendered.

Distributors of medical devices are not required to obtain an authorisation to engage in wholesale trade.

See 1.3 Different Categories of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices.

The importing and exporting of medicinal products are governed by the HMRs (or EU Directive 2001/83 in relation to Northern Ireland). The importing of medical devices is governed by the UK Medical Devices Regulations (or the relevant EU Directive in relation to Northern Ireland). The UK government plans to introduce new regulations for medical devices over the course of 2024 and 2025. These regulations are expected clarify the requirements for economic operators, including importers. There are no specific rules regarding the exporting of medical devices except that a Certificate of Free Sale may be needed depending on the importing country.

HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for border control. The MHRA Enforcement Group is responsible for applying and enforcing the HMRs and the UK Medical Devices Regulations.

Importers of pharmaceuticals and medical devices require an Economic Operator Registration and Identification number, which is entered onto all UK customs declarations. Importers must be a UK-resident business for certain UK customs issues, including the declarations.

The designation of a particular entity as the importer of record for customs purposes will not be conclusive in determining who should hold any required import authorisations from a regulatory perspective.

Importing medicinal products into Great Britain from outside the EEA requires a manufacturer’s import authorisation granted by the MHRA. Importing QP-certified medicines into Great Britain from the EEA may be performed under a WDA that authorises import. Importing medicinal products into Northern Ireland from Great Britain may be conducted under a WDA, provided certain additional conditions are met.

Import for personal use by the importer or a member of their immediate family (up to a three-month supply) does not require an authorisation.

No authorisation is required to import medical devices, but importers should notify the UK Responsible Person or the Northern Ireland-based Authorised Representative (as described in 3.4 Procedure for Obtaining a Marketing Authorisation for Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices), as they are required to provide the MHRA with a list of device importers.

Details of specific tariff duties and measures that apply to particular goods in the UK are contained in the Integrated Tariff of the UK. An importer or exporter is responsible for the correct tariff classification of goods. His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has developed an online trade tariff tool to assist in product classification.

Under the EU–UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement, and the UK’s free trade deal with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, there are no tariffs or quotas on trade in medicinal products and medical devices between the UK and the EU and EEA countries, and mutual recognition of GMP inspections and certificates. The UK has also entered into an economic partnership agreement with Japan, which provides for mutual recognition of drug-safety testing and inspections before export. The UK has entered into free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand (which provide for no tariffs or quotas on trade in most medicinal products and medical devices, as well as mutual recognition of conformity assessment of medical devices). It remains a member of the World Trade Organization.

Statutory controls on pharmaceutical pricing are set out in the National Health Service Act 2006 and subordinate legislation.

The 2019 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access (VPAS) came to an end on 31 December 2023. This has been replaced by the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAG), a non-contractual agreement, negotiated between DHSC, NHS England and the ABPI, which controls the prices of branded medicinal products by:

• controlling profits made by scheme members from their National Health Service (NHS) business;
• establishing a budget cap on the total expenditure by the NHS on branded health service medicines, with member companies making scheme payments to the DHSC as quarterly rebates (calculated as a percentage of eligible net sales) to cover excess expenditure; and
• introducing differentiated payment mechanisms between newer and older medicines.

The VPAS is an agreement which is not binding under the law of contract; however, the Secretary of State may enforce sums payable under the Scheme.

New branded health services medicines that contain a new active substance and are supplied by VPAG member companies are subject to free pricing at launch, as are line extensions of such medicines launched within 36 months of licensing of the initial indication in the UK. The prices of such products must be notified to the DHSC prior to launch. The price for all other branded health service medicines supplied by VPAG member companies must be agreed with the DHSC.

If a company is not a member of the VPAG, it is regulated by the parallel Statutory Scheme. The Statutory Scheme is applicable only to branded health service POMs. Since 1 April 2018, it has involved a payment scheme, calculated as a percentage of net sales, similar to the previous VPAG. The maximum price that may be charged for a branded health service medicine within the Statutory Scheme is that directed by the Secretary of State. The DHSC has indicated that it will maintain broad commercial parity between the schemes and is currently undertaking a consultation to introduces changes to the statutory scheme that reflect the new VPAG.

Prices may also be limited as a result of competition, including through tenders. In primary care, the price of some medicinal products may be indirectly controlled by the reimbursement price, as set out in the Drug Tariff (a monthly publication specifying the amounts to be paid to contractors for providing relevant goods and services). These prices are calculated based on sales information provided by pharmacies, manufacturers and wholesalers. Where the Drug Tariff does not list a reimbursement price for a medicine, or where a product is prescribed by brand name, it will be reimbursed at the manufacturer's NHS list price.

Medical devices will only be routinely dispensed in primary care through the NHS if they are included in the Drug Tariff. The DHSC/NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) agrees the reimbursement price of the medical device with the manufacturer at launch, and this is principally determined by comparing the device with similar products on the market and their respective prices. If there are no comparable devices or if the applicant submits evidence to support a different price, the reimbursement price is determined by negotiation between the parties. The sale of any device not listed within the Drug Tariff is a matter for negotiation between the seller and the local NHS.

There is no formal system of international reference pricing, although the cost of the presentation in other markets is specifically listed as a relevant criterion to which the DHSC should have regard when agreeing or directing a price under the VPAG or the Statutory Scheme.

All authorised medicines validly prescribed on an NHS prescription may in principle be reimbursed from public funds, unless expressly excluded.

In primary care, patients receive medicines prescribed by their GPs from community pharmacies. Patients in England must pay a fixed price for NHS prescriptions, unless exempt. Prescription charges have been abolished in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Medicinal products used in NHS hospitals are funded by commissioners in accordance with the “national tariff”, a set of prices for defined procedures and items of care (currencies) established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Hospitals are paid for procedures performed or care provided (including the costs of associated medicines and devices), based on amounts fixed in the national tariff. Certain new and high-cost medicines and medical devices are reimbursed outside the tariff system, and enhanced payments may be made for some patients.

In England, most new medicines (and new indications for existing products) undergo health technology appraisal by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which issues recommendations on NHS use based on its assessment of clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness. NHS bodies in England are required by regulations to make funding available so that patients can access treatments recommended by NICE. NICE assesses some medical devices and diagnostic tests through parallel procedures.

The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) issues guidance in Wales on new technologies immediately following launch. In Scotland, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) assesses all new medicines and new indications for existing medicines and issues guidance close to the product launch. In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) considers NICE guidance and reviews it for legal, policy and financial consequences only, before deciding on implementation.

In theory, NHS prescribers may prescribe any product considered clinically appropriate for their patients but, in practice, NHS commissioners control which medicines may be prescribed through local or national formularies, largely determined by the cost-effectiveness of individual products. Treatments recommended by NICE should be included automatically in NHS formularies in England; products not recommended by NICE are generally not funded on a routine basis. An equivalent approach is taken to products recommended by the AWMSG, the SMC and the DHSSPS.

Community pharmacists purchase products from manufacturers or wholesalers and are reimbursed by the NHSBSA at the rate specified in the Drug Tariff, or, where no reimbursement price is set in the Drug Tariff, at the manufacturer's list price. When the price paid by the pharmacist is less than that reimbursed by the NHSBSA, the pharmacist makes a margin of profit. The extent of this margin is monitored by the NHSBSA, and claw-backs are imposed to ensure that pharmacy profits do not exceed defined limits.

There is no generic substitution by community pharmacists in the UK, and the Medicines Act 1968 requires the particular product prescribed to be dispensed. However, in general, doctors are encouraged to prescribe products using their international non-proprietary name (INN). Where a product is prescribed by its INN, the pharmacist may dispense any product that meets the specifications/INN described, and is likely to select the lowest-cost product. Generic substitution is standard practice in the hospital context.

There are no specific legal provisions governing medical apps in UK. Standalone software and medical apps that meet the definition of a medical device will be regulated as medical devices, and are required to be UKCA-marked (or EU CE marked). Developers should also comply with the MHRA’s various guidance on software or artificial intelligence as a medical device (if applicable), the UK government’s Code of practice for app store operators and app developers and the ICO’s guidance on compliance with data privacy rules. 

Physicians can, and do, provide medical attention remotely in the UK, including through mobile devices. However, there are currently no specific or separate rules for telemedicine. Under English law, the provision of telemedicine services constitutes the provision of healthcare, which is a regulated activity under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, subject to the supervision of the Care Quality Commission, which is the independent regulator of health and social care services in England.

The practice of medicine is regulated by the General Medical Council. The same standards apply to doctors regardless of whether they practise in physical or virtual clinics.

There are no special legal provisions applicable to the online advertising and promotion of medicines and medical devices. Pharmaceutical and medical technology companies may use online portals, web pages and social networking sites to promote or provide information about their products, provided they follow the applicable legislation, guidance and codes of practice. Breaches of these requirements through online activities are enforced in the same way as activities involving traditional methods of communication.

In practice, pharmaceutical companies rely on the guidance provided by the MHRA and, under the self-regulatory system, the ABPI and Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) and the Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB).

The MHRA Blue Guide confirms that material posted on UK websites (including social networking sites, blogs and discussion forums) and/or aimed at a UK audience is subject to UK medicines advertising legislation.

The ABPI Code, which is administered by the PMCPA, covers the online advertising and promotion of POMs, and states that promotional material directed to a UK audience provided digitally must comply with all relevant requirements of the Code. In addition, specific guidance was published in 2023 on the use of social media.

Digital promotional materials relating to OTC medicines, over which companies have full editorial control, must comply with the PAGB Consumer Code and, like other forms of advertising of OTC medicines to members of the public, must be submitted to the PAGB for approval (in an offline format).

The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) provides a self-regulatory regime for the medical technology or devices sector, as set out in its Code of Business Practice. Online advertising of medical devices is subject to the same requirements as other forms of advertising. The web-based promotion of self-care medical devices is subject to the PAGB Medical Devices Consumer Code.

The advertising of medicines and medical devices is also subject to supervision by the Advertising Standards Agency.

Electronic prescriptions are used commonly within the NHS and private practice in the UK. They must comply with data protection laws and confidentiality requirements.

Online sales are regulated in the same way as traditional sales channels. Therefore, POMs may only be supplied online after being dispensed from a registered pharmacy by a pharmacist in accordance with a prescription from an appropriately qualified HCP.

Distance-selling pharmacies may remain on the NHS pharmaceutical list, entitling them to dispense medicines from an NHS prescription if they comply with the requirements of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013.

Electronic health records are not subject to specific regulation in UK, but they must comply with data protection laws and confidentiality requirements.

Where special category (or other) personal data is transferred to a cloud platform, both the transferring entity and the cloud platform must comply with the UK data protection legislation, including the associated requirements for transferring personal data out of the UK.

UK patent law is governed by the Patents Act 1977.

On 1 January 2021, the Patents (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the Patents Regulations 2019), the Intellectual Property (Amendment, etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (the IP (Amendment) Regulation 2020) and the Supplementary Protection Certificates (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulation 2020 (the SPC Regulation 2020) came into effect, to bring EU legislation into UK law as far as possible to maintain the systems and processes that were in place before Brexit. UK patent law remains substantively unchanged, including the patent enforcement system in the UK.

Patent infringement and validity claims form the bulk of cases issued before UK courts. The increasing amount of data required to be disclosed in patent specifications is a challenge for the grant of pharmaceutical and biotech patent inventions, particularly in relation to second or further medical uses.

A number of exclusions to patentability relate exclusively to pharmaceutical or biotech inventions (eg, methods of treatment by surgery or therapy, methods of diagnosis, and uses of human embryos for industrial or commercial purposes).

Claims to second and subsequent medical uses (and, indeed, first medical uses), including in relation to dosage regimes and new or selected patient populations, are patentable as long as:

• they fulfil the usual requirements of patentability, with the claimed therapeutic effect needing to be plausible; and
• the claims are drafted in a particular approved form, which, since 2010, is in the form “substance X for use in the treatment of indication Y”.

Such claims can include, in certain circumstances, second or further medical uses to medical devices (eg, a dye used for surgery where the dye is a medical device).

Patent term extensions in the UK are in the form of supplementary protection certificates (SPCs). The Patents Regulation 2019, the IP (Amendment) Regulation 2020 and the SPC Regulation 2020 have largely retained the pre-Brexit processes and systems under EU Regulation 469/2009 (the SPC Regulation, as amended) and Regulation 1901/2006 (the Paediatric Regulation, as amended).

An SPC provides for a period of extended exclusivity for a patented medicinal product for a maximum of five years. New applications for a six-month paediatric extension to SPCs are considered based on provisions in the HMRs. Since 1 January 2021, the process of applying for a UK SPC has remained largely the same, although greater care is needed, including monitoring the MAs granted in the UK and the EEA, as the SPC filing deadlines and SPC expiry dates may differ between the UK and the EEA. In addition, the territorial scope of SPCs granted in the UK only extends to the part of the UK for which a valid MA has been granted on filing the SPC application, unless the applicant subsequently applies for the UK SPC to be extended to cover the whole of the UK. Moreover, holders of SPCs granted prior to 1 January 2021, which were based on authorisations from the EMA, may need to provide information on the converted UK authorisation for recordal purposes.

Where a patent covers a pharmaceutical product or medical device, it is an infringing act to make, sell, offer to sell, use, import or keep the product or device in the UK. It is not an infringing act to make an offer to sell a product before patent expiry if the offer is to sell the product after patent expiry. It is also not an infringing act merely to apply for, or obtain, authorisation to sell a pharmaceutical product or medical device before patent expiry.

Where a patent covers a method for making a pharmaceutical product or medical device, it is an infringing act to use the patented method in the UK. It is also an infringing act to sell, offer to sell, use, import or keep a product “obtained directly” by means of the patented process.

It is also an (indirect) infringement to supply, or offer to supply, in the UK the means relating to an essential element of the invention, for putting the invention into effect, knowing (or it being obvious to a reasonable person in the circumstances) that those means are suitable for putting, and are intended to put, the invention into effect in the UK.

It is possible to apply for an injunction restraining a party from infringing a patent on the basis of a threat of infringement, even if no actual infringement has occurred. There is no requirement for the infringement to be “imminent” in order for an injunction to be granted; the patent holder only needs to prove that there is a sufficiently strong probability that, in the absence of an injunction, the other party will infringe the patent.

A number of general exemptions from patent infringement might apply to pharmaceutical products and medical devices, including:

• acts carried out privately and for purposes that are not commercial;
• acts carried out for experimental purposes relating to the subject matter of the invention, including anything done in or for the purposes of a medicinal product assessment, which in turn includes work done in the UK for the purposes of obtaining an MA for a medicinal product anywhere in the world and health technology assessments (there is no equivalent express provision relating to medical devices); and
• the extemporaneous preparation in a pharmacy of a medicine for an individual in accordance with a prescription given by a registered medical or dental practitioner, or dealing with a medicine so prepared.

A compulsory licence of a UK patent is available if, where the patented invention is a product, demand for that product is not being met on reasonable terms. A compulsory licence is also available if the patent holder's behaviour is causing the establishment or development of commercial or industrial activities in the UK to be unfairly prejudiced, or if the exploitation of an important technical advance of considerable economic significance is being hindered. These compulsory licence provisions are rarely asserted and are therefore of limited relevance in practice.

An action for infringement may be brought by the patent holder or by an exclusive licensee.

The remedies available for infringement are:

• an injunction to prevent future infringement;
• damages; or
• an account of the infringer's profits.

The patent holder may also seek delivery or destruction of all infringing articles in the possession or power of the infringer.

In recent years, there have been an increasing number of cases where the patentee does not seek an injunction, provided an appropriate royalty is agreed or awarded by the court for future infringement.

An action for infringement can be brought in the Patents Court or in the IP Enterprise Court (IPEC), both of which are part of the English High Court. The IPEC is designed to deal with lower value, less complex cases with a more streamlined procedure.

Higher value claims must be brought in the Patents Court.

An infringement action is commenced with the issue of a claim form and particulars of claim, outlining the patent holder's claim for infringement. The alleged infringer then submits its defence and any counterclaim, which may include a counterclaim for invalidity. If the alleged infringer raises a counterclaim, the patent holder will serve its own defence. Parties may then reply to any defences. Following the exchange of formal pleadings, the court will schedule a case-management conference to set the timetable for the action and the estimated trial date.

The alleged infringer may still submit a product or process description to avoid giving disclosure in relation to infringement.

Expert evidence is typically exchanged before trial in written witness statements, and the experts are cross-examined on the content of these statements during the trial. If necessary, the parties may also provide evidence of experiments relating to infringement or validity, subject to a tightly controlled procedure.

Disclosure, as well as witness and expert evidence, is significantly more limited in IPEC cases.

Invalidity is available as an effective defence to an infringement claim on the basis that there cannot be infringement of an invalid patent. If validity is challenged, the alleged infringer is required to serve “grounds of invalidity”.

There is no requirement for pre-launch declaratory actions by a generic entrant. There is no patent linkage between the authorisation for a pharmaceutical product and the patent position. However, a generic entrant who does not clear the way risks facing infringement claims or injunction applications by patent holders, and this may prevent the launch of the product.

A generic entrant that wishes to clear the way may start an action to revoke a patent or SPC. Alternatively, or in addition, the generic entrant may seek declaratory relief from UK courts that:

• its proposed product does not infringe an issued patent or SPC;
• in the case of a pending patent or SPC application, its product was known or obvious at the priority date of the relevant patent application; and/or
• any application for an SPC would be invalid because it would not comply with the conditions in the SPC Regulation.

A rights holder has a number of options to tackle counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices, such as trade mark infringement, patent infringement, copyright infringement or passing off.

A trade mark infringement action is typically more straightforward than a patent infringement action, and is generally the action of choice. Trade mark infringement carries both civil and criminal liabilities under the UK Trade Marks Act 1994. It is possible to bring a private criminal prosecution against an infringer, although criminal proceedings are more usually brought by the UK's Trading Standards Authorities or the MHRA. In addition, the MHRA has the power to bring criminal proceedings against counterfeiters under the HMRs. Civil proceedings may be appropriate when dealing with counterfeiting on a large scale, or where the rights holder wishes to take advantage of the procedural tools and remedies offered in civil proceedings (eg, search orders or injunctions).

Counterfeit goods may be subject to border seizure actions. HMRC, together with the Border Force, is responsible for preventing counterfeit goods from entering the UK.

The following has applied since 1 January 2021:

• existing EU applications for actions (AFAs) filed via an EU Customs office remain valid and enforceable in the EU, but have ceased to have effect in the UK;
• existing EU AFAs filed via HMRC remain valid and enforceable in the UK but have ceased to have effect in the EU;
• any new EU AFA filed via an EU Customs office will apply across the EU only and will not be enforceable in the UK; and
• new UK AFAs must be filed online via the HMRC portal. Applicants must specify whether the AFA is to cover Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Great Britain only, or Northern Ireland only. Only UK IP rights can be relied upon in the new UK AFAs.

The MHRA assesses the invented name of medicinal products individually and in conjunction with a specific medicinal product. Where the proposed invented name has been registered as a trade mark in the UK for use with a medicinal product, an assessment by the MHRA – including safety considerations – determines whether the proposed invented name is suitable for use for the medicinal product. When reviewing proposed invented names, the MHRA applies criteria based on public health concerns, such as the potential for confusion with other products.

The UK Medical Devices Regulations provide that trade marks used in connection with the labelling, instructions for use, making available, putting into service or advertising of a medical device are prohibited if they may mislead the user or the patient with regard to the device's intended purpose, safety and performance.

Trade mark owners can, in principle, prevent imports of genuine medicines and medical devices into the UK if they were not first placed on the UK market by the owner or with its consent. The doctrine of exhaustion of IP rights also applies to genuine medicines and medical devices that have first been placed on the market in the EEA by the trade mark owner or with its consent.

IP protection is available for the trade dress and design of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and their packaging. The packaging of a product, the precise design of a tablet or the design of a medical device may potentially be protected by copyright, registered or unregistered design rights, and sometimes by trade marks. The applicability and extent of such protection will depend on whether the trade dress or design in question meets the criteria for such protection. In addition, medicinal products or medical devices may be protected by a right in the tort of passing off, which protects the goodwill associated with those products.

Innovator pharmaceutical companies developing a chemical or biological medicinal product may benefit from a period of regulatory data protection and marketing protection to protect the investment made. The regulatory data protection period is eight years, during which a generic applicant cannot cross-refer to the innovator's pre-clinical and clinical data to obtain an MA for a copy product. The marketing protection period is a further two years (making a total of ten years), during which a copy product that is lawfully authorised based on the innovator's pre-clinical and clinical data cannot be placed on the market. This combined period of eight-plus-two years is often referred to as the data/marketing exclusivity period.

The marketing protection period can be extended by an additional year on the approval, within eight years of the first grant of the medicinal product, of a new indication bringing significant clinical benefit when compared with existing therapies. Non-cumulative periods of one year of regulatory data protection can be awarded in respect of research data to support new indications for well-established uses or that were required to accomplish a switch from POM to pharmacy supply. Orphan medicinal products may benefit from an exclusivity period of ten years, or 12 years with an extension for conducting paediatric studies, during which no application for a similar medicinal product in the same indication can be accepted by the regulatory authorities.

There are no exclusivities for medical devices.

The MHRA and the DHSC implemented various temporary flexibilities in the regulation of medicines and medical devices to support the supply chain and wider response to COVID-19, some of which remain relevant. These flexibilities typically do not displace or diminish the applicable regulatory obligations, but provide flexibilities from certain requirements, such as deferral of periodic supplier and customer requalification and the ability for responsible persons to act for another company within the same group of companies without variation, and other related initiatives.

The MHRA put measures in place during the pandemic to prioritise and provide assistance for clinical trial applications submitted for COVID-19, such as dedicated contact points and procedures for rapid scientific advice, reviews and approvals. However by 2022 these applications were being handled in accordance with the MHRA’s usual timelines.

The HMRs permit temporary authorisation of a medicinal product in response to the confirmed or suspected spread of pathogenic agents, etc. The HMRs were amended on 16 October 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other things, the amendment strengthened existing provisions that allow for the temporary licensing of medicines and vaccines, following which several COVID-19 vaccines were granted temporary authorisations.

The MHRA introduced exceptional GMP flexibilities for medicine manufacturers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic declared by WHO in May 2023, on-site GMP inspections were restarted, and in order to clear the backlog of postponed inspections the validity of GMP certificates was extended until the sooner of 2024 or the conclusion of the next inspection. In the meantime inspections continue to be prioritised based on risk and those with GMP or GDP certificates greater than five years old.

During the pandemic the MHRA adopted a flexible approach for medicines imported from third countries, and published guidance allowing, for example, certain unexpected minor deviations in the finished product specifications where, in the QP’s professional judgement, safety and efficacy are not compromised and where the purpose of the action is to maintain supply in the interest of public health. While in principle these flexibilities remain in place, the easing of pandemic related logistical challenges means that justifying them on public health grounds will become increasingly difficult for QPs.

The government and regulators have supported the use of existing regulatory flexibilities in a number of areas, such as the switch to remote consultation in primary care delivery and the use of digital data collection tools.

The government has not announced any intention to issue compulsory licences for COVID-19-related treatments or vaccines.

The HMRs protect MA holders or the person responsible for placing the product on the market, manufacturers (and their respective employees) and HCPs from civil liability for loss and damage resulting from the use of an unauthorised or off-label medicinal product, if that use was required or recommended by the UK licensing authority in response to the suspected or confirmed spread of pathogenic agents, toxins, chemical agents or nuclear radiation that may cause harm to human beings – including COVID-19. The HMRs were amended on 16 October 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to expand the immunity from civil liability afforded to healthcare workers and manufacturers to also include companies producing the vaccine, among other things.

No existing provisions were used, nor were any new ones introduced, to allow the requisition or conversion of manufacturing sites due to COVID-19.

In February 2021, the Cabinet Office issued Information Note PPN 01/21, which consolidated previous guidance on procurements conducted in situations of extreme urgency, including the use of accelerated timelines, extending or modifying a contract during its term and contracts awarded without competition or advertisement. In particular, PPN 01/21 provides advice on the commercial risks inherent in direct awards without competition, such as higher prices and limited due diligence. To combat these risks, the PPN encourages contracting authorities to seek contractual mechanisms that would allow them to secure price reductions through the life of the contract and publish some form of advertisement, run an informal competition or hold discussions with multiple suppliers.