What has SMC said?
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted standardised allergen extracts from the house dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae (Acarizax®) for the treatment of adults (18-65 years) with a positive test for dust mite sensitisation with at least one of the following conditions:
- Moderate to severe allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the lining of the nose) caused by dust mites, which has not been controlled well enough with symptom-relieving medicines.
- Asthma due to dust mite allergy that is not well controlled by inhalers that contain corticosteroids.
SMC has accepted Acarizax® for restricted use. The restriction means it can only be used in patients with stubborn moderate to severe allergic rhinitis due to dust mites which has not been controlled well enough with symptom-relieving medicines.
This document summarises the SMC decision and what it means for patients.
You can find more detailed information about the SMC assessment of Acarizax® by looking at the SMC Detailed Advice Document (SMC2885).
What does SMC’s decision mean for patients?
Acarizax® for use as described above is available for prescribing on the NHS in Scotland. Your healthcare professional can discuss with you if it is the right treatment for you.
You can find more information about making decisions about your treatment here: Medicines in Scotland: What’s the right treatment
How does SMC make its decision?
SMC carefully considers every new medicine to make sure it benefits patients and is likely to be a good use of NHS resources.
To do this SMC studies the following:
- Evidence from the company about how well the medicine works compared with current treatments available in Scotland, in relation to how much they will cost to buy and use to treat patients.
- The potential impact of the medicine on patients and carers.
- Advice from healthcare professionals about any benefits of the new medicine compared to current treatment, along with how the new medicine is likely to be used.
When SMC assesses a medicine it takes account of the needs of all patients in NHSScotland, not only those who may be treated with the medicine.
You can find out more about how SMC decides here: https://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/how-we-decide/
More information and support
Further information, advice and support for patients with allergies and their families and carers can be found through the NHS inform website:
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/immune-system/allergies/
You can find out more about: Acarizax® in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) by searching for the medicine name on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website.
https://products.mhra.gov.uk/