ThromboGenics' Jetrea gets initial NICE recommendation for VMT

Belgium-based biopharma company ThromboGenics (Euronext Brussels: THR) said this morning (June 12) that the UK’s drugs watch dog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has provisionally recommended its ophthalmic agent Jetrea (ocriplasmin) for reimbursement within the National Health Service (NHS).

The NICE Appraisal Consultation Document (ACD) initially recommends Jetrea as an option for treating vitreomacular traction (VMT) in adults, including when associated with a macular hole of less than or equal to 400 microns, when patients have severe symptoms and an epiretinal membrane is not present.

Jetrea is the first pharmacological treatment indicated for use in patients diagnosed with VMT and macular hole of diameter less than or equal to 400 microns and was approved by the European Commission earlier this year (The Pharma Letter March 13). Partner Alcon launched the drug in the UK, its first market in Europe, in April, resulting in ThromboGenics receiving 90 million-euro ($119 million) in milestone payments. Alcon, a division of Swiss drug major Novartis (NOVN: VX), acquired the rights to commercialize Jetrea outside the USA in March 2012. A report last year from EvaluatePharma noted that, as potentially the first non-surgical treatment for VMA, ocriplasmin’s annual sales could reach $409 million by 2016. The drug was approved in the USA last year (TPLs January 20 and October 19, 2012).