Antivirals can now be used for flu in the UK
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Antiviral therapies for flu can now be used in at-risk patients in the UK after surveillance schemes indicated that the number of infections had increased to that seen in most winters, the Health Protection Agencyhas recommended. Current NICEguidance recommends flu antivirals for treatment or prophylaxis in the elderly and patients with heart problems, diabetes or diseases of the lung, liver or kidney, and in those with weak immune systems. It recommendsRoche's Tamiflu (oseltamivir) andGlaxoSmithKline's Relenza (zanamivir) but not Alliance Pharmaceuticals' amantadine. The guidance is currently being reviewed by NICE, and the final appraisal determination, issued earlier this month, indicated that its stance on rejecting antiviral use in otherwise healthy flu patients has not changed. The FAD also says that neither of the two antivirals is better than the other. The appeal period runs until January 9th.
You may also be interested in...
Pipeline Watch: Phase III Readouts in Wilson Disease, Parkinson's Disease And COVID-19
Pipeline Watch is a weekly snapshot of selected late-stage clinical trial events and approvals announced by pharmaceutical and biotech companies at medical and industry conferences, in financial and company presentations, and in company releases and statements.
AZ's Rare Disease Unit Reports Positive Phase III Results For Copper-Binding ALXN1840
Alexion/AstraZeneca has announced positive top-line results from the Phase III study of ALXN1840 in patients with the rare genetic disorder, Wilson disease, including in patients already on standard-of-care therapies. The compound is ahead of two candidate gene therapies from other companies at early-stage clinical development.
Theravance's Gut-Selective JAK Inhibitor Disappoints In Ulcerative Colitis Study
Top-line results from a Phase IIb study of Theravance’s potential gut-selective JAK inhibitor izencitinib have not matched expectations, and results from a similar early-stage study in Crohn’s disease with the Janssen-partnered candidate are now awaited at the end of the year or in early 2022.