Background
Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a progressive infiltrative heart muscle disease, caused by the accumulation of insoluble amyloid fibrils in the heart muscle (myocardium). The resulting cardiomyopathy eventually progresses to end-stage heart failure. Life expectancy without access to specialised treatment is poor.
Project
The objective of the project is to improve the care of patients with CA by accelerating the clinical review and optimisation of treatment, for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CA, as assessed by an expert clinician at the National Amyloidosis Centre (NAC).
The project will run over a total of 12 months:
To incorporate an initial 6-month period to triage and initiate appropriate treatment for eligible patients who are already diagnosed with CA.
This will be followed by a 6-month period to establish best working practices for ongoing management of these patients.
Benefits
Benefits to Patients
Improved access to expert review and specialised medicines and treatments.
Specialist Healthcare support from National Amyloidosis Centre.
Improved adherence to medicines through specialist nurse support.
Improved outcomes for amyloid patients (e.g., improve decision making by specialist multi-disciplinary team, access to expert diagnostics and experience in treatment decision making, direct links to NAC).
Benefits to the NHS
Efficiency in NAC working practice to review patients in an accelerated manner reducing impact on wider NHS organisations.
Maintain current NAC waiting times despite an increased number of patients requiring review.
Sharing of best clinical practice across a future amyloid network.
Benefits to Pfizer
The project will result in the identification of patients who are eligible for appropriate treatment.
Expected increase in the speed of uptake of licensed treatment for eligible patients.
Increase understanding of service provision.
Resource allocation
Pfizer will provide £110,608 to fund a clinical nurse specialist and data administration. In addition, 540 hours of Pfizer colleagues’ time will be provided to support the project through all stages of delivery from planning to evaluation.
The National Amyloidosis Centre will fund £65,100 to fund diagnositic support and will provide 1,894 hours of time to the project.
Proposed term of collaborative working project
Start date: 2nd September 2024
End date: 1st September 2025
Pfizer is committed to being transparent about the relationships we have with other organisations.
Through Joint Working projects, we work in partnership with healthcare organisations to develop solutions that improve patient care and add value to the work of the NHS.