# David Cameron Proposes Dedicated Dementia Drug Fund for NHS Access Former PM urges government to replicate cancer drug funding model for Alzheimer's treatments. - **Source:** [Science & tech Articles | Mail Online](https://www.dailymail.com?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490) - **Published:** 2026-10-18 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2d53460f-403e-4d32-ab7e-2407ab631bcf ## Proposed Dementia Drug Fund David Cameron, president of Alzheimer's Research UK, is advocating for a dedicated drug fund to improve patient access to Alzheimer's treatments. Drawing on his experience with the cancer drugs fund established sixteen years ago, he argues that a similar financial mechanism is necessary to overcome current access barriers for patients. ## Stalemate in Drug Negotiations NHS officials and the medicines watchdog NICE are currently deadlocked in negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers Eli Lilly and Eisai. These discussions, which began in July, were originally expected to conclude within 49 days. The primary points of contention remain the high costs and the logistical framework for patient access to treatments. ## Clinical Efficacy of Treatments The drugs in question, donanemab and lecanemab, represent a significant shift as they are the first licensed medicines shown to slow disease progression rather than just managing symptoms. Clinical trials indicate these treatments can slow Alzheimer’s progression by approximately 30 percent, potentially providing patients with six additional months before further cognitive deterioration occurs. ## Current Market Access Barriers Although both donanemab and lecanemab were licensed for use in Britain in 2024, they are currently only available through private channels. The cost for these treatments is approximately £80,000 per year, placing them out of reach for most patients unless a deal is struck for inclusion within the public NHS system. ## Eligibility and Patient Impact If the government approves these drugs for NHS use, approximately 70,000 people in England could become eligible for treatment. However, clinical guidelines restrict the administration of these medicines to the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease, meaning timely diagnosis and rapid access to the proposed funding mechanism are critical for patient outcomes. ## Regulatory Appraisal Status A NICE spokesman confirmed that the appraisal process for these drugs has been officially paused. This suspension is intended to allow NHS England and the manufacturers to explore all reasonable opportunities to secure a positive outcome. The goal remains balancing patient access with delivering long-term value for the UK taxpayer. ## Advocacy and Public Pressure Michelle Dyson, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, has highlighted that patients are desperate for these treatments to be approved. Meanwhile, NHS officials maintain they are doing everything possible to reach an agreement. The pressure from high-profile figures like Cameron adds significant political weight to these ongoing, complex pharmaceutical negotiations. ## Historical Policy Precedents Cameron’s proposal relies on the precedent of the cancer drugs fund, which successfully broke deadlocks over expensive new therapies. By urging the government to show similar determination for dementia, he aims to shift the current stalemate. The outcome will determine whether the UK adopts a new funding model for chronic diseases. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-16218707/David-Cameron-dedicated-dementia-drug-fund.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._