NICE calls for more data on Brintellix, says no to Otezla

In draft guidance issued today for consultation, the UK Institute for Health can care Excellence (NICE) has asked Danish CNS drug specialist Lundbeck (LUN: CO) to provide more information about its drug vortioxetine (trade name Brintellix) for treating major depressive episodes in adults.

NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre director Carole Longson commented: “The [Appraisal] Committee acknowledged that having more treatment options was important for patients, and that vortioxetine may be beneficial for some people with a major depressive episode after initial treatment in primary care with a generic selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). However, the Committee concluded that there was no convincing evidence to show that vortioxetine was any more or less effective than other antidepressants. They also felt the company had not sufficiently defined how vortioxetine would be used in the NHS, or reflected its potential position, within its economic model.”

Prof Longson continued: “The Committee was therefore minded not to recommend vortioxetine for treating adults with major depressive episodes after SSRI therapy and has requested further clarification and analyses from the company to address the issues identified before it can decide whether vortioxetine is a cost-effective use of NHS resources.”

NICE has not recommended Celgene’s apremilas