Feature / NICE update

Technology guidance

• TA 278 Omalizumab for treating severe persistent allergic asthma (review of technology appraisal guidance 133 and 201) – The guidance on omalizumab for treating severe persistent allergic asthma in people aged six years and over (NICE technology appraisal 278) is unlikely to result in a significant change in resource use in the NHS. The number of people actually receiving omalizumab is not estimated by clinicians to increase significantly and, because a patient access scheme has been agreed, a significant change in resource use is not anticipated.?
• TA 279 Vertebral fractures – vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty – The guidance on percutaneous vertebroplasty and percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty for treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures is unlikely to result in a significant change in resource use in the NHS. Current activity levels for these two procedures are not expected to change significantly.
• TA 280 Abatacept for treating rheumatoid arthritis after the failure of conventional disease- modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (rapid review of technology appraisal guidance 234) – This guidance is unlikely to result in a significant change in resource use in the NHS, as abatacept in combination with methotrexate is only one of many treatment options for adults with rheumatoid arthritis after the failure of conventional disease- modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
• TA 282 Pirfenidone for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis – Pirfenidone is recommended as an option for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis only if the person has a forced vital capacity (FVC) between 50% and 80% predicted and the manufacturer provides pirfenidone with the discount agreed in the patient access scheme.?The manufacturer of pirfenidone has agreed a patient access scheme with the Department of Health that makes pirfenidone available with a discount. The size of the discount is commercial in confidence. Based on the list price of pirfenidone the annual cost associated with implementing this recommendation is estimated as £186,000 for a population of 100,000.

NICE update was prepared by Stephen Brookfield, (senior costing analyst) at NICE