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16 August 2010
Asthma UK has criticised NICE’s decision not to recommend a pioneering medicine which could help hundreds of children in England. Omalizumab, brand name Xolair, is used as a treatment for severe persistent allergic asthma. However, NICE decided against recommending it for use with children aged 6-11 years because evidence highlighted little extra benefit compared with existing treatments for this age group, meaning the extra cost would not represent value for money for the Health Service. The draft guidance is now with consultees who have the opportunity to appeal against it. NICE has not yet issued final guidance to the NHS, but it is expected in September 2010. Dr Mike Thomas, Chief Medical Adviser to Asthma UK, said, “Hundreds of children across England with the most severe, allergic asthma will now be denied a pioneering treatment that could free them from crippling daily asthma symptoms, endless trips to hospital and huge amounts of time off school. “As the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has already approved omalizumab (Xolair) for use in children aged 6-11 in Scotland, patients will once again be faced with a treatment postcode lottery depending on where they live in the UK. “For parents of children with severe asthma aged 6-11 who have already trialled Xolair and had their lives transformed, this news will come as a massive blow. It’s vital that these children do not have the treatment withdrawn by PCTs as a result of the NICE decision, as this would be completely unjust. “We will continue to fight for Xolair to be made available to people of all ages with severe asthma throughout the UK.”