More Harm Than Good: Why More Isn't Always Better With Older People's Medicines

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New Technology appraisal guidance [TA526] Arsenic trioxide for treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA526] Arsenic trioxide for treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia
Published date: 13 June 2018  Next review: June 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on arsenic trioxide (Trisenox) for treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia in adults.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta526

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA525] Atezolizumab for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after platinum-containing chemotherapy

Atezolizumab for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after platinum-containing chemotherapy
Published date: 13 June 2018  Next review: June 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for previously treated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in adults.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta525

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA524] Brentuximab vedotin for treating CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA524] Brentuximab vedotin for treating CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma
Published date: 13 June 2018  Next review: June 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) for treating CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma in adults.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta524

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA523] Midostaurin for untreated acute myeloid leukaemia

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA523] Midostaurin for untreated acute myeloid leukaemia
Published date: 13 June 2018                 Next review: June 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on midostaurin (Rydapt) for untreated FLT3-mutation-positive acute myeloid leukaemia in adults.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta523

Signal Lorazepam confirmed as first-line treatment for stopping prolonged seizures in children

NIHR Signal Lorazepam confirmed as first-line treatment for stopping prolonged seizures in children


Published on 17 April 2018


Intravenous lorazepam is as effective as intravenous diazepam for stopping children’s tonic-clonic seizures in hospital. https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/content/signal-00586/lorazepam-confirmed-as-first-line-treatment-for-stopping-prolonged-seizures-in-children
From the NIHR Dissemination Centre

New NICE Technology appraisal guidance [TA519] Pembrolizumab for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after platinum-containing chemotherapy

New NICE Technology appraisal guidance [TA519] Pembrolizumab for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after platinum-containing chemotherapy


Published date: 25 April 2018  


Evidence-based recommendations on pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for previously treated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in adults.


For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta519

Pembrolizumab for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma – second line onwards

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. This type of cancer develops from the main liver cells, called hepatocytes. Treatment and survival depends on the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed. HCC is more common in people who have long‐term damage to the liver (cirrhosis) due to a viral infection or excessive alcohol intake.


http://www.io.nihr.ac.uk/report/pembrolizumab-for-advanced-hepatocellular-carcinoma-second-line-onwards/


From the NIHR Innovation Centre

Lenabasum for Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic Sclerosis (SS) is a rare disease caused by the immune system attacking the tissue which lines underneath the skin and internal organs (connective tissue). The exact cause of SS is not known but it is thought to happen when immune cells attack the body’s own tissues leading to the cells in the connective tissue producing too much collagen which causes scaring and thickening of the tissue. There are 2 types of SS; limited cutaneous SS (a milder form of SS affecting only parts of the body) and diffuse cutaneous SS (a more severe form of SS which can affect the whole body). The main symptoms of diffuse cutaneous SS are hardening of the skin, acid reflux, vomiting and diarrhoea, muscular pain, weakness and cramps. The outlook for people with diffuse cutaneous SS is generally poor due to high risk of life threatening complications such as heart, lung and kidney problems.


http://www.io.nihr.ac.uk/report/lenabasum-for-diffuse-cutaneous-systemic-sclerosis/


from the NIHR Innovation Centre

Enasidenib for Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) with an Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) Mutation

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of cancer that causes the bone marrow to produce lots of immature white blood cells. It is most common in people aged 60 years and over. Symptoms of AML may include weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, recurrent infections, prolonged bleeding, loss in appetite and unintended weight loss. Most patients with AML are treated with standard
chemotherapy.


http://www.io.nihr.ac.uk/report/enasidenib-for-relapsed-or-refractory-acute-myeloid-leukaemia-aml-with-an-isocitrate-dehydrogenase-2-idh2-mutation/


From the NIHR Innovation centre

Rigerimod plus Standard of Care for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a long-term condition causing inflammation to the joints, skin and other organs. Symptoms presented are usually very general, including fever, joint pain and skin rash but can progress to the most severe, e.g. kidney failure. SLE typically has patterns of flare-ups where the condition gets worse for a period of time. The disease is likely to be caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors and most commonly affects middle-aged women and those of African-Caribbean ethnicity.


http://www.io.nihr.ac.uk/report/rigerimod-plus-standard-of-care-for-systemic-lupus-erythematosus/




From the NIHR Innovation Centre

Axitinib for Patients at High Risk of Recurrence of Renal Cell Carcinoma – Adjuvant

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer. RCC affects the lining of tiny tubes within the kidney which filter waste from the blood, making urine. Symptoms include blood in urine, feeling of lump or mass in the kidney area, weight loss, raised temperature and sweating, back pain on one side (below the ribs), tiredness, loss of appetite and a general feeling of poor health. The main treatment for RCC is surgery to remove the cancer by partly or totally removing the kidney


http://www.io.nihr.ac.uk/report/axitinib-for-patients-at-high-risk-of-recurrence-of-renal-cell-carcinoma-adjuvant/


From the NIHR Innovation Centre

Tocilizumab for treating giant cell arteritis [TA 518]

New: Technology appraisal guidance


Tocilizumab for treating giant cell arteritis


Evidence-based recommendations on tocilizumab (RoActemra) for treating giant cell arteritis in adults.


https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta518

NHS England. Health and justice mental health services: Safer use of mental health medicines

This document provides a background to prescribing and mental health medicines in secure environments with some common principles that apply throughout the medicines optimisation pathway, and more detailed information within the pathway to support safer practice.  Click here to read further.

NIHR Signal Short-duration dual antiplatelet treatment is possible for older people receiving drug-coated stents

NIHR Signal Short-duration dual antiplatelet treatment is possible for older people receiving drug-coated stents


Drug-eluting stents are more effective than bare-metal stents for preventing repeat procedures to open narrowed heart arteries in older adults with coronary heart disease. In this trial both types of stents were used alongside short courses of dual antiplatelet medication, outcomes for those receiving drug-eluting stents were improved with no difference in bleeding complications or rates of in-stent clots.
Published on 7 March 2018
Read full document at https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/portal/article/4000966/short-duration-dual-antiplatelet-treatment-is-possible-for-older-people-receiving-drug-coated-stents

NIHR Signal Statins are of no benefit in acute respiratory distress syndrome

NIHR Signal Statins are of no benefit in acute respiratory distress syndrome


Giving statins to patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome made no difference to the number of days they spent on a ventilator. It also had no effect on mortality or the length of time spent in intensive care or in hospital compared with placebo.
Published on 13 March 2018
Read full document at https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/portal/article/4000971/statins-are-of-no-benefit-in-acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome

NEW NICE Technology appraisal guidance TA513: Obinutuzumab for untreated advanced follicular lymphoma

Obinutuzumab for untreated advanced follicular lymphoma.


Evidence-based recommendations on obinutuzumab (Gazyvaro) for untreated advanced follicular lymphoma in adults.


Published: March 2018
Next review: March 2021


Full guidance available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta513

New NICE Technology appraisal guidance TA512: Tivozanib for treating advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Tivozanib for treating advanced renal cell carcinoma.


Evidence-based recommendations on tivozanib (Fotivda) for treating advanced renal cell carcinoma in adults.


Published: March 2018
Next review: March 2021


Full guidance available at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta512

New NICE Technology appraisal guidance TA511: Brodalumab for treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis

Brodalumab for treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.


Brodalumab is recommended as an option for treating plaque psoriasis in adults, only if:

the disease is severe, as defined by a total Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) of 10 or more and a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) of more than 10 and

the disease has not responded to other systemic therapies, including ciclosporin, methotrexate and PUVA (psoralen and long-wave ultraviolet A radiation), or these options are contraindicated or not tolerated and

the company provides the drug with the discount agreed in the patient access scheme.

Published March 2018

Full guidance available at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/TA511/chapter/1-Recommendations

New NICE Technology appraisal guidance TA510: Daratumumab monotherapy for treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

Daratumumab monotherapy for treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

Evidence-based recommendations on daratumumab (Darzalex) for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in adults.

Published March 2018
Next review: The guidance will be updated when the data collection period has ended (expected to be November 2020). Daratumumab will continue to be available through the Cancer Drugs Fund while the guidance is being updated, as part of the managed access agreement.


Full guidance available at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta510