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Weight loss pill treatment rejected by NICE

pharmafile | May 8, 2017 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing NICE, orexigen 

NICE has announced, in an Appraisal Consultation Document, that it is not able to recommend Orexigen’s Mysimba as a weight loss treatment. The decision was reached after it adjudged that it “could not reliably make a decision on the most likely estimate of cost effectiveness”, it announced part of its statement on the decision.

The appraisal did note that the treatment would provide an innovate option after lifestyle measures had failed to reduce weight in patients. It also noted that there is currently only one pharmaceutical alternative, which is orlistat (produced by GSK).

The main barrier blocking Mysimba’s path to approval by NICE seems to be the lack of data, with the guidance noting that there were limitations “its structure, implementation, key assumptions, and clinical data used” to support the economic model put forth by the company.

Orexigen had already achieved success in Spain to market the drug, forming a partnership with Laboratorios Farmacéuticos Rovi to distribute the drug through Spain.

NICE will continue to consult on the drug until 30 May, with Orexigen having the option to submit more data during this time. The appraisal consultation document did make it clear that the treatment is more effective than placebo at treating those suffering from obesity but that the trials used to back up this evidence contained only a small percentage of patients who were overweight.

Ben Hargreaves

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