The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7460 p38
14 July 2007

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News summary

New NICE work programme announced

Clinical guidelines on autism, hypertension in pregnancy, bed-wetting and severe mental illness coupled with substance misuse are to be drawn up by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

The institute’s 15th work programme, announced by the Department of Health, will also entail developing public health intervention guidance on needle exchange schemes and on mechanisms to reduce inequalities in vaccination rates for people under 19 years of age. A combined public health and clinical guideline will also be produced on preventing, identifying and managing alcohol use disorders.

The DoH also announced new technology appraisals to be added to NICE’s 14th work programme. They are:

• Bevacizumab (Avastin) for breast cancer

• Telbivudine (Sebivo) and entecavir (Baraclude) for chronic hepatitis B

• Tolevamer (currently under development by Genzyme) for Clostridium difficile-associated disease

• Febuxostat (being developed by Ipsen) for managing hyperuricaemia in gout patients

• Tocilizumab (Actemra) for juvenile idiopathic arthritis

• Adalimumab (Humira) for moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis

• Bevacizumab (Avastin), sorafenib tosylate (Nexavar) and sunitinib (Sutent) for renal call carcinoma

Consultation has also started on nine technology appraisals that are under consideration for addition to the 15th work programme. These include seven cancer drugs as well as dabigatran (Rendix), for preventing deep vein thrombosis, and alvimopan (Entereg), for opioid-induced bowel dysfunction.