UK NICE seeks to curb Alzheimer's drugs

Eisai's Aricept (donepezil), Novartis' Excelon (rivastigmine) and Johnson & Johnson/Shire's Reminyl (galantamine) are not recommended for use in the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, according to preliminary recommendations by an Appraisal Committee of the UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Moreover, it says, Forest Labs' Namenda (memantine) - sold in Europe as Ebixa by Merz and Lundbeck as Axura - is not recommended for the treatment of moderately-severe to severe AD, except as part of ongoing or new clinical studies that are "designed to generate robust and relevant data on long-term outcomes, disease progression, quality of life and costs."

People currently receiving any of the four products, whether as routine therapy or as part of a clinical trial, may be continued on therapy, including at the conclusion of a clinical trial, until it is considered appropriate to stop, the NICE adds.