Tysabri licensed for use in the UK
29 Jun 2006
Tysabri has been licensed for use in the UK today. The drug still needs to be reviewed by NICE and we await to hear as to whether NICE will “fast-track” the appraisal through the new Single Technology Assessment of sixteen weeks, or whether it will go through the longer main stream appraisal which would not complete until October 2007. We hope to hear from NICE on this around the 5 July.
In the meantime, the drug can - in theory - be prescribed by neurologists for people with certain types of MS, dependent on funding.
The European marketing recommendation is that Tysabri be authorised for use as a single disease modifying therapy for people with highly active relapsing remitting MS who have failed to respond to treatment with beta interferon or in patients who have rapidly evolving, severe relapsing remitting MS.
Ken Walker, MS Society acting chief executive, said:
“This is excellent news for people with MS, as Tysabri offers a powerful addition to the existing disease modifying treatments.
We believe that NICE should fast track the approval process under the new Single Technology Assessment.
Our understanding is that Tysabri has been licensed for people with highly active relapsing remitting MS who have failed to respond to treatment with beta interferon or for those who have rapidly evolving, severe relapsing remitting MS. Clearly, this drug will not benefit everyone with MS and we recommend people should seek the advice of their GP or neurologist. Nevertheless, it is a significant breakthrough in MS treatment.”
The European marketing recommendation is that Tysabri be authorised for use as a single disease modifying therapy for people with highly active relapsing remitting MS who have failed to respond to treatment with beta interferon or in patients who have rapidly evolving, severe relapsing remitting MS.
Ken Walker, MS Society acting chief executive, said:
“This is excellent news for people with MS, as Tysabri offers a powerful addition to the existing disease modifying treatments.
We believe that NICE should fast track the approval process under the new Single Technology Assessment.
Our understanding is that Tysabri has been licensed for people with highly active relapsing remitting MS who have failed to respond to treatment with beta interferon or for those who have rapidly evolving, severe relapsing remitting MS. Clearly, this drug will not benefit everyone with MS and we recommend people should seek the advice of their GP or neurologist. Nevertheless, it is a significant breakthrough in MS treatment.”
Related documents
Tysabri - a new drug for MS (pdf 84kb)
The new drug Tysabri is effective for people with relapsing remitting MS, but use of the drug carries some risk. MS Matters reports.
The new drug Tysabri is effective for people with relapsing remitting MS, but use of the drug carries some risk. MS Matters reports.
BACK TO TOP
