NICE accused of 'inflexible' approach over Ocrevus

9 September 2018

Amid patient criticism of a failure to reach a deal over Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX) has blamed a lack of flexibility within the system for getting drugs reimbursed on the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Cost-effectiveness watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not recommended providing the treatment on the NHS for PPMS despite backing funding for the same drug in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) earlier this year.

"This is devastating news for people with PPMS who urgently deserve access to the first and only licensed treatment which has been proven to slow the progression of this highly-disabling disease"

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