NICE in U-turn over Alexion's Strensiq

A drug to treat a rare inherited bone disorder has been recommended for limited use by Britain’s pricing watchdog after being initially turned down for being too expensive last year.

In draft guidance the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended US drugmaker Alexion Pharmaceutical’s (Nasdaq: ALXN) Strensiq (asfotase alfa), which could cost up to £1.5 million ($2 million) per patient per year, for perinatal- and infantile-onset hypophosphatasia (HPP).

Alexion said it welcomed the decision but expressed disappointment that the guidance ‘dismissed’ the needs of children with juvenile-onset HPP.