NICE final guidance gives green light to Lucentis for CNV

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued final guidance recommending Swiss drug major Novartis’ (NOVN:VX) Lucentis ( ranibizumab) as a treatment option for sight problems caused by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in people with a rare form of short-sightedness known as pathological myopia.

NICE recommends the treatment should only be prescribed if the manufacturer makes it available to the National Health Service under terms agreed with the Department of Health as part of a patient access scheme. Ranibizumab is recommended as an option for treating visual impairment due to choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathological myopia.

Carole Longson, Health Technology Evaluation Centre director at the NICE, said: “NICE is pleased to recommend ranibizumab as a treatment option for people with choroidal neovascularization. This condition can cause sight problems such as distorted vision, colour disturbance and even sight loss. These symptoms can come on suddenly, and may lead to irreversible damage to the eye, so this decision will be welcome news to all those affected.”

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