Haematologic agents

Nearly 92% of atrial fibrillation patients in England anticoagulated, says NHS adviser

The UK Health Security Agency has achieved the figure five years ahead of its original 2029 target year by offering anticoagulation to nine in ten patients with atrial fibrillation.…

Statin prescribing in England at record high, show NICE data

Figures show that atorvastatin prescribing increased from 4.2 million people in 2022/2023 to 5.0 million people in 2023/2024.…

Manufacturer withdraws treatment for sickle cell disease following concern over deaths

Pfizer's withdrawal is based on data that suggest “an imbalance in vast-occlusive crises and fatal events which require further assessment”.…

Lipid-lowering therapies for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in primary care

An overview of updated guidance relating to the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease can be applied in practice, considering the availability of newer medications.…

Pharmacists made 150,000 patient interventions during anticoagulant safety audits, report finds

The results of the two national audits revealed a significant increase in patients with a yellow anticoagulant alert card, from 66.5% in 2021/2023 to 73.3% in 2023/2024.…

Statins offer cost-effective benefit for older people, study results suggest

The researchers found that lifetime use of a standard statin therapy increased quality-adjusted life years by 0.24–0.70 per person.…

First gene-editing therapy recommended by NICE to treat people with beta thalassaemia

NHS England said that around 460 patients aged 12 years and over could benefit from the treatment.…

Haemophilia treatment first to be recommended by NICE as part of new drug pricing agreement 

Etranacogene dezaparovovec (Hemgenix; CSL Behring) is also the first medicinal product to enter the Innovative Medicines Fund.…

NICE recommends voxelotor for sickle cell treatment, reversing previous decision

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said it was able to recommend the sickle cell treatment following a reduction in its price.…

Diltiazem use with anticoagulants associated with higher risk of bleeding compared with metoprolol in older people, study finds

The study included data from 204,155 Medicare beneficiaries in the United States who filled a prescription for apixaban or rivaroxaban between January 2012 and November 2020.…