Positive NICE recommendation for Novartis' Lucentis, but not for Cell Thera's Pixuvri

There was good news for Swiss drug major Novartis (NOVN: VX) this morning, when UK drugs watchdog the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended that Lucentis (ranibizumab) be approved for use within the National Health Service in England and Wales to treat people with visual impairment due to macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

The positive NICE Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) recommends ranibizumab as a treatment option for those people with visual impairment due to macular oedema as a result of a blockage of the central retinal vein (Central Retinal Vein Occlusion [CRVO]) and also to those with a blockage to one of the branches of the central vein (Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO)) where laser treatment is neither beneficial or appropriate.

Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive at the NICE, said: “The loss of vision associated with macular oedema can have a significant effect on the patient’s quality of life and independence. We are recommending this treatment for NHS use in people with CRVO and some people with BRVO only if the manufacturer provides it to the NHS under terms agreed in a patient access scheme, which makes the treatment more cost effective.”