NICE final draft guidance recommends Norgine's Targaxan

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published its final draft guidance recommending Targaxan (rifaximin), produced by independent Dutch pharma company Norgine, for hepatic encephalopathy.

NICE is appraising Targaxan in reducing the recurrence of episodes of hepatic encephalopathy in adults, a brain condition caused by liver failure which can lead patients to become confused, unconscious or fall into a coma as a result of liver problems.

Carole Longson, director of the NICE center for health technology evaluation, said: “We are pleased that new evidence became available which allowed us to recommend rifaximin as a treatment option for people with hepatic encephalopathy. This serious brain condition has far-reaching effects on people with the condition and their families and carers. It can be serious, even fatal. People affected may have to go into hospital regularly. Rifaximin can prevent these life-threatening episodes and improve people’s quality of life.”