Endorsement for Avandamet
Endorsement of the combination product Avandamet (rosiglitazone/metformin) has been made for its use in type 2 diabetes within NHS Scotland.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium says the product costs the same and
offers a more convenient, though less flexible, dosing regimen than its
individual components.
In separate guidance, the SMC rejects use of rosiglitazone as monotherapy
for type 2 diabetes. Also rejected is cilostazol (Pletal) for use in
intermittent claudication. Both drugs are substantially more expensive
than alternative treatments and their cost effectiveness has not been
proven, says the SMC.
Guidance recommending restricted use was issued for three further drugs — clopidogrel
(Plavix) for acute coronary syndromes, alteplase (Actilye) for acute
ischaemic stroke and anastrozole (Arimidex) for breast cancer.
The guidance is available via the SMC website. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal