NICE recommends Ipsen drug for gout treatment

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which decides on the drugs that are provided on the UK's National Health  Service (apart from in Scotland), has published guidance as part of its  rapid single technology appraisal work program on the use of French firm  Ipsen's Adenuric (febuxostat) for the management of hyperuricemia in  people with gout.

The guidance recommends the use of febuxostat as an option for the  management of chronic hyperuricemia in gout for people who are  intolerant of allopurinol, the off-patent drug currently used as  standard first-line therapy, or patients for whom allopurinol is  contra-indicated.

"Gout is generally acknowledged as being one of the most painful forms  of arthritis and about 1.5% of the UK population currently suffers from  the condition," said NICE chief executive Andrew Dillon "The independent  committee carefully considered the evidence and concluded that  febuxostat represents an important new option for patients who suffer  the debilitating effects of gout, but for whom the current standard  treatment is not appropriate," he added.