National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

NICE approves three cystic fibrosis drugs for NHS use

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has approved three drugs used to treat cystic fibrosis, after its initial decision not to recommend them caused “disappointment, anxiety and concern”.…

NICE recommends tenecteplase for treating acute ischaemic stroke patients

Tenecteplase was found to be as effective as alteplase, which is more expensive, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said its decision could save the NHS “millions”.…

Draft NICE guidance recommends ‘at-home’ pill for advance prostate cancer

The National institute of Health and Care Excellence says up to 40,000 people in England could benefit from relugolix (Orgovyx; Accord).…

NHS rolls out new multiple sclerosis injection that cuts treatment time by 90%

The NHS will be one of the first healthcare systems in the world to offer the new injection in the “coming weeks”.…

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.…

Joint guidance for asthma recommends replacing SABA with corticosteroid inhalers

The draft guidance proposes the use of combined inhaled corticosteroid/formoterol inhalers over previously preferred short-acting beta agonists.…

NICE terminates appraisal of medicine for the treatment of persistent cough

Manufacturer Merck Sharpe & Dohme has decided not to supply the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence with evidence on use of gefapixant (Lyfnua).…

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.…

NICE recommends phased roll out of genetic testing for clopidogrel prescribing

In draft guidance, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said that testing could be rolled out to patients at higher risk of stroke recurrence first, while capacity is established.…

NHS England publishes guidance on withdrawing desflurane from general use, following NICE evidence review

Desflurane can be safely withdrawn from clinical use, the guidance says, but may be warranted in “some specific clinical exceptions”.…