Companies granted third extension to VPAG 2026 decision deadline – now set for 16 December

The ABPI and the government have agreed to a further extension to the deadline by which companies must give notice if they intend to leave the 2024 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth (VPAG).

The extension supersedes both previous extensions agreed in September and October.

The revised deadline for submitting notice to leave the VPAG scheme is now 16 December 2025, having previously been extended to 14 November.

This change has been agreed to give companies more time and better information to help them make decisions in the context of ongoing global uncertainty affecting the life sciences sector.

If a company signals its intent to leave VPAG at any time before the new 16 December date, it cannot change its mind. Once this date has passed, any companies that did not give notice to leave must remain in the scheme for all of 2026. If companies choose to leave the VPAG, they will be subject to the Statutory Scheme for branded medicines.

A similar extension was implemented in 2024 in response to the planned timing for the publication of the statutory scheme consultation response. However, this further change to this year's deadline should be considered entirely separate and does not affect future years of VPAG.