Table 1 SMC and NICE criteria for consideration as an end-of-life or rare condition

the treatment is indicated for patients with a short life expectancy, normally less than 24 months;

EoL: medicine to treat a condition at a stage that usually leads to death within 3 years.

and

the treatment offers an extension to life, normally of at least an additional 3 months;

and

or

for small patient populations normally not exceeding a cumulative total of 7000 for all licensed indications in England (ie 1 in 7700)*

Orphan: medicine to treat a condition affecting fewer than 2500 people in a population of 5 million) (ie 1 in 2000).

or

Ultra-orphan: medicine to treat a condition with a prevalence of 1 in 50,000 or less.