December 2014 decisions news release
This month the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted five new medicines. Among the decisions announced today are three cancer medicines and one medicine for a very rare condition.
Two of these medicines were accepted after consideration under the SMC’s new, more flexible PACE (Patient and Clinician Engagement) process, which aims to improve patient access to new medicines for the treatment of end of life and very rare conditions.
Pemetrexed (Alimta), which may be used as a maintenance treatment in one of the most common types of lung cancer, has been shown to improve survival rates. During the PACE process, patients and clinicians advised that this treatment can allow patients to take a more active role in their treatment and for some patients may allow continuation to a second line therapy providing the opportunity for improved lifespan.
Riociguat (Adempas) for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), was also considered under the PACE process and accepted for restricted use. This is a very rare, life-threatening condition that is often treated surgically, but a small number of patients are inoperable or do not respond to the operation. Patients are usually disabled by extreme breathlessness. Riociguat is the first medicine proven to increase patients’ exercise capacity and as a result it can reduce their dependence on carers.
Also accepted was Obinutuzumab (Gazyvaro) which is used to treat the most common type of leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). CLL typically affects people over 70 years old. A submission from the charity Leukaemia Care highlighted that patients with other conditions such as heart problems or kidney disease are often unable to take treatments that are currently available for this condition. Obinutuzumab offers patients another treatment option that has fewer side effects.
Pomalidomide (Imnovid) was accepted for multiple myeloma, a rare cancer of the white blood cells. It is given in combination with dexamethasone to adults with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior treatment regimens, including lenalidomide and bortezomib, and have experienced deterioration of their disease since the last therapy. Pomalidomide was accepted after a resubmission with the inclusion of a patient access scheme (PAS) that improves the cost-effectiveness of the medicine.
Umeclidinium (Incruse) was accepted for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (which includes long-term bronchitis and emphysema), a lung condition which may cause serious disability.
Professor Jonathan Fox, Chairman of SMC, said:
“I am pleased that SMC has been able to accept these new medicines, which included three cancer medicines and a medicine for a very rare condition considered under the new PACE process.”
Professor Fox also praised the many patient groups and clinicians who have been part of the new PACE process.
“We have worked closely with patient groups and clinicians to develop the PACE process. The experiences of clinicians and the voices of patient groups who have taken part in these meetings are proving to be very powerful in helping us reach decisions. Thanks to their willingness to work with us on PACE and take part in the meetings, I am confident that we are beginning to see the benefits of increased access to effective new medicines.”