England's NHS to Offer New Aficamten Pill for Obstructive HCM

Around 6,600 people in England with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) will soon have access to aficamten (brand name Myqorzo), a once‑daily reversible cardiac myosin inhibitor. The drug received simultaneous authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and a recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on 30 July. Clinical trials showed aficamten reduces symptoms such as breathlessness and chest pain and improves exercise capacity, with efficacy expected to be comparable to the existing treatment mavacamten.

NICE’s guidance requires integrated care boards, NHS England and local authorities to implement the recommendation within 90 days, and NHS England will make the treatment available within 30 days of the final guidance. A confidential discount has been secured, lowering the list price of £1,180 per 28‑tablet pack. Helen Knight of NICE said, “We’re pleased to be able to recommend a treatment that has the potential to alter the course of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and offers new hope to people with this serious condition.” Katharine McIntosh of Cardiomyopathy UK added, “We’re delighted that aficamten is going to be made available to people living with obstructive HCM.”