Prescribing of high-cost targeted therapies in England is diverging by region

Abstract

Objectives To examine regional variation in the prescribing of targeted therapies for chronic inflammatory disorders in England between 2019 and 2025. Study design Retrospective observational study. Methods This study analysed Secondary Care Medicines Data from all NHS hospitals in England to evaluate time-trends in prescribing rates of targeted therapies by Integrated Care Board (ICB). Results Substantial and increasing regional variation in prescribing rates for targeted therapies was observed between 2019 and 2025. The disparity between the highest and lowest prescribing ICBs increased over time, with rates ranging from 2.0 to 6.5 per 1000 people in 2019 and 3.4 to 14.2 per 1000 people in 2025. Conclusions There is marked and growing regional variation in the prescribing of targeted therapies across England. Further research should explore the reasons for this divergence to ensure equitable access to these highly effective treatments for patients with chronic inflammatory disorders, irrespective of geography