NICE recommends Sanofi's Aubagio as new treatment option for MS

In final guidance published this morning, UK drugs watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the use of French drug major Sanofi’s (Euronext: SAN) biotech subsidiary Genzyme’s oral multiple sclerosis drug Aubagio (teriflunomide).

According to the agency, the National Health Service now has a legal obligation to begin funding this treatment for eligible patients in England within the next three months. Teriflunomide has been recommended as a treatment for adults with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis. This is a chronic, disabling, neurological condition that, as it progresses, can be life altering and has a substantial negative impact on quality of life and activities of daily living. Last year, the NICE delayed approval of Aubagio when it called on additional information on the drug’s efficacy from the company (The Pharma Letter September 18, 2013).

Commenting on the decision, Carole Longson, NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre director, said: “Current treatments all need to be injected, and can be associated with unpleasant side effects. As an oral treatment with a different side-effect profile, teriflunomide offers a new option for treating relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis, which could have a substantial impact on quality of life for people with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis.”