NICE decides Xolair is not value for money
pharmafile | August 12, 2010 | News story | Sales and Marketing | NICE, Novartis, Xolair
NICE has refused to back the use of Novartis’ Xolair for young children, saying the asthma drug’s cost brings little extra benefits over existing treatments.
The UK cost-effectiveness body’s draft guidance concluded that the use of Xolair by the under 12s would not represent value for money for the National Health Service.
NICE is assessing the injectable treatment Xolair (omalizumab) for use against severe persistent allergic asthma in children aged six to 11 and reached its decision after evidence highlighted little additional clinical benefit compared with existing treatments for children in this age group.
Dr Gillian Leng, NICE deputy chief executive, said: “The evidence demonstrates no proven reduction in hospitalisation rates, accident and emergency visits, unscheduled doctor visits or total emergency visits for children in this age group treated with omalizumab.
“The independent appraisal committee found that omalizumab is only useful in reducing the rate of clinically significant exacerbations for children who had had three or more exacerbations per year.”
Dr Leng said NICE were unable to divert NHS funds for this treatment given both its high expense and limited benefits for patients.
“The committee did consider comments received during consultation that not recommending omalizumab in this age group is unfair because NICE recommends it under specific circumstances for children aged 12 years and above,” she said.
She added that the recommendation was not based on the age of patients, but rather that the clinical evidence shows that the use of Xolair is not cost-effective for the under 12s.
Dr Leng concluded that the committee recognised it would be preferable to develop a single piece of guidance covering recommendations for all age groups, and will therefore aim to review the recommendations for all age groups together at the “earliest opportunity”.
Although asthma is a common condition, affecting approximately 1.1 million children in the UK, only a very small proportion would be eligible to try Xolair. It is thought there are around 300 children in the UK whose asthma is not adequately controlled despite the best available therapy and following a ‘stepwise’ approach.
Final guidance on Xolair’s use by the under 12s is expected in September.
Ben Adams
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