What has SMC said?
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted empagliflozin to treat adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
SMC has accepted empagliflozin for restricted use. The restriction means that it can be used to treat adults with CKD who are receiving standard care including treatment with medicines called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), if the patient can have them and:
- the patient’s kidneys are working very poorly (as shown by a measure called an eGFR of between 20 to 45 mL/min/1.73m2) or
- the patient’s kidneys are working slightly better (eGFR of 45 to 90 mL/min/1.73m2) but there is either:
- clear signs of kidney damage as shown by a high ratio of albumin to creatinine in the urine (22.6mg/mmol or more), or
- the patient has type 2 diabetes.
This document summarises the SMC decision and what it means for patients.
You can find more detailed information about the SMC assessment of empagliflozin by looking at the SMC Detailed Advice Document (SMC2642).
What does SMC's decision mean for patients?
Empagliflozin 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 in this booklet called: Medicines in Scotland: What’s the right treatment for me?
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.
- Information from patient groups about 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: htps://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/how-we-decide/
More information and support
The organisation below can provide more information and support for people with kidney disease and their families. SMC is not responsible for the content of any information provided by external organisations.
Kidney Research UK
https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org
0300 303 1100
You can find out more about empagliflozin (Jardiance®) 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/