BRIEF—Akcea first to UK market with rare disease option

Akcea Therapeutics has won a positive reimbursement decision from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), for Tegsedi (inotersen) as a hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) treatment.

The guidance means that Tegsedi will be made available for routine use in England within 90 days.

While Alnylam Pharmaceuticals was the first to win European approval for its hATTR option, Onpattro (patisiran), the UK’s reimbursement agency is yet to provide funding for the drug.