NICE early guidance recommends Ofev to treat lung disorder

The medicines watchdog for England and Wales, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), has today published preliminary draft guidance which recommends National Health Service use of Ofev (nintedanib), from German family-owned pharma major Boehringer Ingelheim, for some people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), if the drug is provided with the agreed patient access scheme discount.

People with IPF have damage and scarring to the tissue surrounding the small airways in the lungs. The British Lung Foundation estimates that 5,000 people are diagnosed with IPF every year in the UK. Common symptoms include breathlessness and cough but the condition will steadily worsen and can be fatal.

The draft guidance is now open for public consultation until September 29, 2015. Until final guidance is issued to the NHS, organizations should make decisions locally on the funding of specific treatments. Once the NICE issues final positive guidance, the NHS has a legal obligation to begin funding the treatment for eligible patients within three months.