SMC accepts colecalciferol tablets (Desunin 800 IU®) for prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency
Source: Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted colecalciferol tablets (Desunin 800 IU®) for use within NHS Scotland for the prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency in adults and adolescents. In addition to specific osteoporosis treatment of patients who are at risk of vitamin D deficiency, supplemental calcium should be considered.
The Detailed Advice notes that the therapeutic use and safety profile of colecalciferol as a treatment for vitamin D deficiency and as an adjunctive treatment in osteoporosis is wel...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - February 11, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
LCNDG Rapid Review: Sirolimus for malignant perivascular epithelial cell tumours (PEComa)
Source: London Cancer New Drugs Group
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
PEComas are a rare group of tumours with a distinct underlying cell type. The majority of these tumours are benign and removed by surgical excision; however there is a small subset of PEComas that are malignant.
Ideal treatment strategies remain undefined but there could be an emerging role for the use of sirolimus for resected malignant tumours. Published literature in the form of case reports/series suggests that patients (n=11) may achieve some disease control or reduction of tumour burden following treatment with sirolimus. Ho...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - February 7, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
LCNDG Rapid Review: Pazopanib for 3rd line metastatic non adipocytic soft tissue sarcoma
Source: London Cancer New Drugs Group
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
Pazopanib has been compared with best supportive care in the PALETTE study, therefore the place in therapy of pazopanib is yet to be determined. However given that there are very limited treatment options and that most of these are given by injection, an oral targeted therapy could provide potential benefits to patients and cancer services.
How clinically significant is a statistically significant improvement in PFS but not OS in advanced STS?
The study was not adequately powered to detect a three month benefit for OS. A...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - February 7, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
DTB: Perampanel as add-on treatment for epilepsy
Source: DTB
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
Perampanel (Fycompa) is a new antiepileptic drug marketed in the EU as adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondarily generalised seizures in patients with epilepsy aged ?12 years. The Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) discusses its place in therapy.
The following points are highlighted:
. In adults and children aged ?12 years with poorly controlled focal (partial-onset) epilepsy, perampanel modestly reduces the frequency of seizures when used as adjunctive therapy.
. The number needed to treat...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - February 7, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NICE unlicensed medicine evidence summary: Oral magnesium glycerophosphate for preventing recurrent hypomagnesaemia
Source: NICE
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
These evidence summaries review the published data for selected unlicensed or off-label medicines that are considered to be of significance to the NHS, where there are no clinically appropriate licensed alternatives. The summaries provide information for clinicians and patients to inform their decision-making and support the construction and updating of local formularies.
The latest summary addresses the use of oral magnesium glycerophosphate for preventing recurrent hypomagnesaemia, which the BNF states is a suitable preparation for this indication when us...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 29, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NICE unlicensed medicine evidence summary: topical diltiazem hydrochloride (2%) for chronic anal fissure
Source: NICE
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
NICE unlicensed medicine evidence summary: topical diltiazem hydrochloride (2%) for chronic anal fissure
These evidence summaries review the published data for selected unlicensed or off-label medicines that are considered to be of significance to the NHS, where there are no clinically appropriate licensed alternatives. The summaries provide information for clinicians and patients to inform their decision-making and support the construction and updating of local formularies.
The latest summary addresses the use of topical diltiazem hydrochloride...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 24, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NICE issues final guidance on vinflunine for advanced or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelial tract (TA 272)
Source: NICE
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
NICE has issued final guidance which does not support the use of vinflunine for the treatment of advanced or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelial tract that has progressed after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy (TA 272).
The Committee noted that vinflunine does not provide enough benefit to patients to justify its high cost, and did not qualify for special consideration.
See links below for further details. (Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews)
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 23, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NICE issues final guidance on fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant for the treatment of chronic diabetic macular oedema (TA 271)
Source: NICE
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
NICE has issued final guidance that does not support the use of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (Iluvien) for the treatment of chronic diabetic macular oedema considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies (TA 271).
The Committee noted that fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implants do not provide enough benefit to patients to justify their high cost.
See links below for further details. (Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews)
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 23, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
LCNDG Rapid Review: Everolimus plus exemestane for second-line endocrine treatment of oestrogen receptor positive metastatic breast cancer
Source: London Cancer New Drugs Group
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
BOLERO-2 is a high quality trial which showed that the combination regimen was associated with a 4.1-6.5 month increase in median progression free survival compared with exemestane alone. The trial was not powered to assess impact on overall survival and at present that data are immature.
The benefit described was seen in a population of women with fairly advanced disease - over 50% had received 3 or more previous lines of therapy, over 80% had received two or more lines of treatment and only 20% had just received one line of treatm...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 23, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Co-formulated elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir (QUAD)
Source: London New Drugs Group
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
The new QUAD tablet consists of three antiretrovirals, elvitegravir, emtricitabine and tenofovir, and a booster, cobicistat.
UK launch is anticipated in Q2 2013, subject to EU approval.
It is the first single-tablet regimen to combine a once-daily integrase inhibitor (elvitegravir) which is boosted by a first-in-class pharmacoenhancer (cobicistat), plus a preferred backbone of emtricitabine and tenofovir.
Two phase III studies have been carried out: Study 102 and 103, comparing QUAD to Atripla (Study 102) and to atazanavir/ritonavir pl...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 22, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
LCNDG Rapid Review: Anti-thymocyte globulin (horse) for the first-line treatment of aplastic anaemia
Source: London Cancer New Drugs Group
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
Immunosuppressive therapy with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) (usually with ciclosporin) has been the standard first-line treatment for patients with aplastic anaemia who are not eligible for HSCT for decades.
Horse ATG (Lymphoglobuline®) was used first-line in the UK for many years but this was withdrawn from the market in 2007 - rabbit ATG (Thymoglobuline®) was then used as a substitute. However recently published data has shown that outcomes are inferior for this product compared to horse ATG and this has led to the BCSH ...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 22, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NETAG issues updated appraisal and recommendation on ulipristal (ellaOne®) for post-coital contraception
Source: NETAG
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
Ulipristal (ellaOne®) for post-coital 'emergency' contraception was previously considered and recommended by the NHS North East Treatment Advisory Group (NETAG) in October 2009. The Group has however completed a re-appraisal due to new clinical evidence and a specific wish to expand the use of ulipristal to patient groups which are not covered by the existing recommendation.
NETAG has not opted to change its previous recommendation following the updated appraisal. Ulipristal (ellaOne®) is therefore still recommended as the preferred drug treatment opti...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 22, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NETAG issues appraisal and recommendation on aflibercept for AMD
Source: NETAG
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
The NHS North East Treatment Advisory Group (NETAG) has undertaken an appraisal of aflibercept (Eylea®) within its licensed indication for the management of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The Group recommends its use, within its licensed indication, for the treatment of newly diagnosed and untreated wet AMD. It does not however recommend its use for the same episode of AMD refractory to treatment with other biological therapies such as ranibizumab. This recommendation is contingent on a maximum cost per aflibercept dose as stated in the ...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 21, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NETAG issues appraisal and recommendation on anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) for aplastic anaemia
Source: NETAG
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
The NHS North East Treatment Advisory Group (NETAG) has undertaken an appraisal of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) for first-line treatment of adult aplastic anaemia. The Group recommends horse ATG as first-line immunosuppressive therapy in preference to rabbit ATG for the treatment of adult aplastic anaemia, acknowledging the substantial difference in efficacy between the two (demonstrated in a single randomised study and supported by the majority of data from non-comparative studies). Recent clinical guidelines support horse ATG in preference to rabbit ATG as first...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 21, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NICE new medicines' evidence summary: Lixisenatide for type 2 diabetes
Source: NICE
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
These evidence summaries are provided to help commissioners, budget holders and groups such as Area Prescribing Committees to make informed decisions and aid local planning on the introduction of key new medicines. They are quality-assured summaries of the best available evidence for selected new medicines, or existing medicines with new indications or a new formulation, that are considered to be of significance to the NHS. The topics selected are medicines that have recently gone into the UK market, or medicines that may be marketed in the UK in the next 6-12 months...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 18, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
