NICE changes rules for end-of-life treatments
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Patients in England and Wales who are expected to die within two years may be considered for more expensive life-extending treatments in the national health service than has been the case until now. The National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence(NICE) has published new guidance on the circumstances in which its cost-effectiveness rules can be set aside for end-of-life patients.
You may also be interested in...
Cervarix link to UK girl's death "unlikely"
Local health authorities in Coventry, UK, say it is most unlikely that vaccination with GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix (human papillomavirus vaccine) was the cause of the death of a 14-year-old schoolgirl on September 28th.
Generic Topamax launched in European markets
Patents on Janssen-Cilag's (Johnson & Johnson) anti-epileptic Topamax/Epitomax (topiramate) expired in many European countries on September 25th, and generics companies are launching their own versions quickly.
NICE confirms limits on Alimta for lung cancer
Lilly's Alimta (pemetrexed) has been recommended as a first-line treatment for some patients in England and Wales with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in binding guidance for the national health service.