UK's NICE backs use of Novartis' Lucentis for diabetic macular edema

27 February 2013

Reversing an earlier negative opinion, in a final guidance issued today (February 27), the UK drugs watchdog the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recommended Swiss drug major Novartis’ Lucentis (ranibizumab) as an option for treating visual impairment caused by diabetic macular edema (DME/DMO).

The NICE conducted a rapid review of the original guidance, published in November 2011, because the manufacturer submitted a revised Patient Access Scheme, together with updated analyses showing the drug’s superior relative effect among a sub-group of people with DME.

Ranibizumab is now recommended as an option for treating visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema only if:

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Try before you buy

Free

7 day trial access

Take a Free Trial

All the news that moves the needle in pharma and biotech
Exclusive features, podcasts, interviews, data analyses and commentary from our global network of life sciences reporters.
Receive The Pharma Letter daily news bulletin, free forever.

Become a subscriber

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now

Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription

The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK