Multiple sclerosis patients to have routine access to beta interferon drug, says NICE in new draft guidance

Multiple sclerosis drug, Extavia, has been approved for routine funding on the NHS, in NICE draft guidance.

Extavia is self-injected every 2 days and works by slowing down the damage to the nervous system caused by MS and by reducing the number of MS related relapses. The committee noted evidence that suggested drugs of this type become less effective over the first 2 years.

As part of this appraisal NICE did not recommend MS drugs glatiramer acetate and the other beta interferons (Avonex, Betaferon, Plegridy and Rebif), as they were found to be not cost effective.

Ponesimod for Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Ponesimod is a drug which works by blocking the signals which allow the body’s immune cells to travel to and damage the nerve cells. By preventing the immune cells from damaging the nerves, it is thought this drug will stop the damage which causes MS ‘relapses’. In clinical trials it has been shown that ponesimod reduces the number of ‘relapses’ in people with MS and reduced the amount of damage to the nerves (measured by brain scans) compared to a placebo.

From the NIHR Innovation Observatory

Cladribine tablets for treating relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis [TA493]

New technology appraisal guidance from NICE:

Cladribine tablets are recommended as an option for treating highly active multiple sclerosis in adults, only if the person has:

• rapidly evolving severe relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis, that is, at least 2 relapses in the previous year and at least 1 T1 gadolinium-enhancing lesion at baseline MRI or
• relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis that has responded inadequately to treatment with disease-modifying therapy, defined as 1 relapse in the previous year and MRI evidence of disease activity.

NHS England strikes new deals to make two new innovative treatments available routinely on the NHS

From 10 November hundreds of patients with Multiple Sclerosis are set to benefit from a new treatment option, Mavenclad, following a deal with drug company Merck.

NHS England and Roche have also reached a commercial agreement on the use of Pertuzumab, which unlocks the final stage of NICE’s appraisal and opens the way for continued access to this important treatment for breast cancer.

Multiple Sclerosis Management Service for Children

This service specification from NHS England also covers children with suspected Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or equally rare ‘MS-like’, recurrent acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) or who have had a first demyelination episode and have a high risk of relapse which require similar treatments, including:

• Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMO, NMOSD) and other AQP4 antibody associated demyelination;
• Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) antibody associated relapsing demyelination and
• Other forms of recurrent relapsing demyelination.

Latest MedTech Alerts Now Available

The latest Horizon Scanning Research and Intelligence Centre Medtech Alerts on innovative new and emerging medical diagnostics have been uploaded:

• Portable neuromodulation stimulator for traumatic brain injury
• Portable neuromodulation stimulator for multiple sclerosis
• Magnetically enhanced diffusion system for acute ischaemic stroke

New drug proves effective for both types of MS

"A drug that alters the immune system has been described as 'big news' and a 'landmark' in treating multiple sclerosis," BBC News reports. The drug, ocrelizumab, proved effective in two related studies, for treating both the primary progressive and the relapsing remitting types of multiple sclerosis (MS).

NHS Choices' Behind the Headlines' team has focused its analysis on the second study, as relapsing remitting MS is the most common type, accounting for around 80% of cases.