The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7469 p282
15 September 2007

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News summary

Wales accepts two HIV drugs

Darunavir (Prezista) and tipranavir (Aptivus) have been accepted for use by the NHS in Wales, following ministerial approval of the recommendations made by the All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group at its August 2007 meeting.

Both protease inhibitors are recommended for the treatment of HIV infection in highly pre-treated adults who have failed more than one regimen containing a protease inhibitor and where resistance profiling suggests it is appropriate. They should be used in accordance with British HIV Association guidance and neither is recommended for shared care.

Two drugs were not recommended for NHS use in Wales — sunitinib (Sutent) for the treatment of advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma and co-careldopa intestinal gel (Duodopa) for the treatment of advanced levodopa-responsive Parkinson’s disease. The AWMSG considered that the clinical and cost-effectiveness data presented to it were not sufficient for it to recommend their use.