AWMSG issues Final Appraisal Recommendation on bortezomib (Velcade®) subcutaneous injection
Source: All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG)
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
In its Final Appraisal Recommendation, the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) is of the opinion that bortezomib (Velcade®) 3.5 mg subcutaneous injection is appropriate for specialist only prescribing within NHS Wales, as an alternative to the intravenous injection, for the following indications:
. treatment of adult patients with progressive multiple myeloma who have received at least 1 prior therapy and who have already undergone or are unsuitable for bone marrow transplantation.
. in com...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 17, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
AWMSG issues Final Appraisal Recommendation on argatroban (Exembol®) for anticoagulation in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II
Source: All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG)
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
In its Final Appraisal Recommendation, the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) is of the opinion that argatroban (Exembol®) 100 mg/ml concentrate for solution for infusion, is appropriate for specialist only prescribing within NHS Wales for anticoagulation in adult patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II who require parenteral antithrombotic therapy. The diagnosis should be confirmed by the HIPAA (heparin induced platelet activation assay) or an equivalent test. However, such confirmation must not delay the...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 17, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
SMC accepts ceftaroline fosamil (ZinforoT) for restricted use for adults with complicated skin and soft tissue infections
Source: Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
The Scottish Medicines Consortium has accepted ceftaroline fosamil (ZinforoT) for restricted use within NHS Scotland in adults with complicated skin and soft tissue infections.
The SMC restriction applies to use in patients with known or suspected meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in the following settings:
. For Gram-positive only infections where vancomycin IV is inappropriate/has not been tolerated or treatment modification is required; and daptomycin IV or linezolid IV is normally...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 15, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
SMC accepts clostridium botulinum toxin A (DysportT) for restricted use in patients with focal spasticity
Source: Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
The Scottish Medicines Consortium has accepted clostridium botulinum type A toxin-haemagglutinin complex (DysportT) for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of focal spasticity of the upper limbs associated with stroke.
The drug advice (see link below) summarises the safety and efficacy data considered for this drug in this indication. This notes that clostridium botulinum type A toxin-haemagglutinin complex (Dysport®) produces a localised reduction in muscle tone in patients with post-stroke upper limb...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 15, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
SMC accepts dapagliflozin (ForxigaT) for restricted use in adults patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Source: Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
The Scottish Medicines Consortium has accepted dapagliflozin (ForxigaT) for restricted use within NHS Scotland in adults patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycaemic control in combination with other glucose-lowering medicinal products including insulin, when these, together with diet and exercise, do not provide adequate glycaemic control.
The SMC states that dapagliflozin is restricted to use as dual therapy in combination with metformin, when metformin alone with diet and exercise does not provide adequate g...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 15, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
SMC accepts glycopyrronium (Seebri BreezhalerT) as a maintenance bronchodilator for COPD
Source: Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
The Scottish Medicines Consortium has accepted glycopyrronium inhalation powder (Seebri BreezhalerT) for use within NHS Scotland as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The drug advice (see link below) summarises the safety and efficacy data considered for this drug in this indication. This notes that in two phase III studies, glycopyrronium was statistically superior to placebo in improving lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 ...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 15, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
SMC accepts vildagliptin (GalvusT) for restricted use in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Source: Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
The Scottish Medicines Consortium has accepted vildagliptin (GalvusT) for restricted use within NHS Scotland in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are inadequately controlled by diet and exercise alone and for whom metformin and sulphonylureas are inappropriate due to contraindications or intolerance.
The drug advice (see link below) summarises the safety and efficacy data considered for this drug in this indication. This notes that in two comparator controlled studies the non-inferiority of vildagliptin to first-...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 15, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
DTB: Rifaximin for the treatment of travellers' diarrhoea
Source: Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB)
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
This review in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) discusses the evidence for rifaximin and how it fits in with current management strategies for travellers' diarrhoea.
The review concludes that the evidence does not suggest benefit for rifaximin over existing standard treatments in the management of travellers' diarrhoea. (Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews)
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 9, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NICE evidence summary (new medicines) on aclidinium bromide for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Source: NICE
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
'Evidence summaries: new medicines' 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 ...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 7, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NICE evidence summary (new medicines) on glycopyrronium bromide for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Source: NICE
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
'Evidence summaries: new medicines' 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 ...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 7, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Amitriptyline for neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia in adults
Source: Cochrane
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
Background
Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that is widely used to treat chronic neuropathic pain (pain due to nerve damage) and fibromyalgia, and is recommended in many guidelines. These types of pain can be treated with antidepressant drugs in doses below those at which the drugs act as antidepressants.
Objectives
To assess the analgesic efficacy of amitriptyline for chronic neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.To assess the adverse events associated with the clinical use ...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 3, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Teriflunomide for multiple sclerosis
Source: Cochrane
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
Background
Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis aim to specifically reduce inflammation in relapsing multiple sclerosis and promote neuroprotection and neurorepair in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Most of the currently available disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) require regular and frequent parenteral administration, which imposes a burden on patients and leads to reduced adherence. Not all MS patients respond adequately to current DMDs and, therefore, alternative MS treatments with less invasive routes of administration...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 3, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Recombinant human growth hormone for treating burns and donor sites
Source: Cochrane
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
Background
Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) increases protein synthesis, therefore it is used in burns with a total body surface area (TBSA) greater than 40%, where there is frequently an increase in protein breakdown and a decrease in protein synthesis. This change in protein metabolism correlates with poor wound healing of the burn and donor sites.
Objectives
To determine the effects of rhGH on the healing rate of burn wounds and donor sites in people with burns.
...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 3, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Intravenous beta2agonists versus intravenous aminophylline for acute asthma
Source: Cochrane
Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews
Background
Inhaled beta-agonist therapy is central to the management of acute asthma. This review evaluates the benefit of an additional use of intravenous beta2-agonist agents.
Objectives
To determine the benefit of adding intravenous (IV) beta2-agonists to inhaled beta2-agonist therapy for acute asthma treated in the emergency department.
Search methods
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified using the Cochrane Airways Group Regis...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 3, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
