The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7362 p184
13 August 2005

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SMC endorses use of a further seven medicines

Seven medicines, including the colon cancer treatment capecitabine (Xeloda), were approved for use within NHS Scotland by the Scottish Medicines Consortium this week.

Capecitabine 150mg and 500mg tablets are endorsed as a supporting treatment for patients who have had surgery for colon cancer that has spread locally. The SMC says that the tablets appear to be as least as effective as the standard intravenous treatment for colon cancer and, although they are more expensive, they may benefit certain patients.

Oxybutynin (Kentera) 3.9mg/24h transdermal patch has been approved to treat patients with an unstable bladder who suffer from unexpected passing of urine or urgency of urination. Treatment is restricted to patients who benefit from oral oxybutynin but experience intolerable side effects, and the SMC says that the patch should be combined with non-drug measures such as pelvic floor muscle exercises.

Voriconazole (Vfend) has been accepted for the treatment of candidaemia in patients with low neutrophil levels. Its use is restricted to patients with candida infection that is resistant to fluconazole who do not benefit from or are resistant to treatment with amphotericin B, or who are at increased risk of serious side effects with amphotericin.

Pemetrexed (Alimta), the first drug licensed for the treatment of mesothelioma, has also been accepted for restricted use. It may be used in combination with cisplatin to treat patients with mesothelioma of the lung that is spreading and inoperable, and who have not had chemotherapy. The SMC says that although pemetrexed is also indicated as a stand-alone treatment for non-small cell lung cancer for patients who have already received chemotherapy, it has not yet received a submission for this indication and so cannot recommend its use.

Strontium ranelate (Protelos) has been approved for use in reducing the risk of fractures of the hip and spine caused by brittle bone disease following the menopause. It should only be used by patients aged over 75 years who cannot take bisphosphonates and have had a fracture or are otherwise at high risk for fracture.

Carbomer 0.25 per cent (Liquivisc) gel has been accepted for the treatment of symptoms of dry eye syndrome and tamsulosin (Flomaxtra XL) extended release tablets have been accepted as an alternative to modified release capsules to treat the functional symptoms of an enlarged prostate.