scale-403585_960_720

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.

Advertisement

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

Related Content

Combination treatments: Takeda’s Implementation Framework and the broader landscape

Pharmafile talks to Emma Roffe, Oncology Country Head (UK & Ireland) about the combination treatment …

NICE recommends Pfizer’s new once-weekly treatment for haemophilia B on NHS

Walton Oaks, 21st May 2025 – Pfizer Ltd announced today that the National Institute for Health and Care …

Dual immunotherapy for bowel cancer now available under NHS

Dual immunotherapy, a combination of Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab), has been granted extension in …

The Gateway to Local Adoption Series

Latest content