Latest news with #ScottishMedicinesConsortium
STV News
2 days ago
- Health
- STV News
Alzheimer's research suffers 'devastating blow' after new drug rejected by NHS
A woman who has Alzheimer's disease has said the progression of research has suffered a 'devastating blow' after a new drug was rejected for use by NHS Scotland. Donanemab delays the onset of dementia and works by targeting a cause of the disease, rather than just treating its symptoms. But the Scottish Medicines Consortium says there isn't enough evidence to prove how well it works. Recently retired Rynagh has lived an enviable life, growing up in Ireland, moving to the US, and attending New York University. Coming to Scotland, she expected to live out the rest of her life in peaceful retirement. Instead, she found out she had dementia. She's now thrown into finding a cure for Alzheimer's – and says the rejection of this drug is a massive blow. 'What would it take to approve a drug for dementia?', she said. 'Because it seems to be a lost in space for people. There aren't annual check-ups or anything like there are with other diseases. So there's no record of decline, which is unusual when you think about how progress is made with other diseases over time. 'Think about polio, leprosy, and cancer. They were known many years ago, but we don't talk about them because of the needs and the cost. 'And I understand that cost is a factor, but the burden on society, even in comparison to those other diseases, is tremendous. Absolutely. And only tremendous. It's not just the individual, it's the community, it's the family. 'It's the cost to the next generation for what they lose out by having to provide that care and not being able to support their own families, immediate families, in the way that they will.' Donanemab works when antibodies are given by infusion into a vein in the arm – they then bind with amyloids in the brain, a protein that builds up in Alzheimer's patients, and leads to cognitive decline. Those antibodies trigger immune cells, which clear the amyloid – and slow down the alzheimer's process. The Scottish Medicines Consortium rejected donanemab for use on the NHS as it said there wasn't 'enough evidence of how well it works.' Meanwhile manufacturer Lilly claims the decision 'does not consider … the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness' of the drug. It's left campaigners worried about the future of dementia research. Henry Simmons, chief executive of Alzheimer Scotland, said: 'The process that all drugs go through at present at the both the NHS in Scotland and England is a reasonable process however, we don't think it is a reasonable way to tackle the issues we face in terms of the size and scale of dementia, and what we are calling for is a rethink on that.' There's hope the SMC will reconsider the drug, but in the meantime, Rynagh hopes people living with dementia don't give up – and that awareness of the illness continues to grow. 'Well, when it comes down to it, it is the public', she added. 'And if the public doesn't have the awareness, they won't push. 'You know, like 66% is that about two thirds of people with dementia are women. Women typically are the caregivers, but then they need the care and it becomes this cycle and it is increasing instead of decreasing. 'And also with the population pyramid is kind of changing as well. We know that that the elderly population is getting bigger and that's it's a disaster that you should be able to see. 'It's not that you're seeing one seventh of the iceberg. We're now coming to the point where it's so far above the water, it should be that you can go around us and go through it and disperse it, but are not even talking about it at the level that we need to be talking about it.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
2 days ago
- Health
- STV News
Treatments for cancer and multiple sclerosis accepted for use on NHS
Medicines to treat patients with multiple sclerosis and a rare type of cancer have been approved for use by the NHS in Scotland. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted Selpercatinib, also known as Retsevmo, for treating patients aged 12 and older, with a rare type of medullary thyroid cancer that is advanced and caused by mutations in a gene called RET. The SMC has also has accepted Cladribine, also known as Mavenclad, for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in adults who have signs of active disease either through clinical signs or evidence of inflammation on scans. And Ruxolitinib, also known as Jakavi, has been accepted to treat patients, aged 12 and over, with acute graft versus host disease where corticosteroids have not been effective. Acute graft versus host disease happens when donor cells attack the body shortly after a transplant. However Durvalumab, also known as Imfinzi, was not recommended when used together with tremelimumab as a first-line treatment for adults with hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer when it is advanced or cannot be removed by surgery. SMC chair Dr Scott Muir said: 'The committee is pleased to be able to accept these new medicines for use by NHSScotland. 'Cladribine as a short course of oral tablets may be a more manageable treatment option for patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. 'Selpercatinib offers an oral targeted treatment for a small group of patients with advanced medullary thyroid cancer, driven by a gene mutation. 'Ruxolitinib offers an oral treatment for graft versus host disease, a serious complication after a stem cell transplant. It is the only licensed treatment for use where corticosteroids have not been successful in controlling the disease. 'The committee was unable to accept durvalumab, used together with tremelimumab, for the treatment of adults with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. 'The company's evidence around the cost effectiveness of the treatment compared to currently available options was not sufficient. 'We would welcome a resubmission from the company addressing the issues we have raised.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
12-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Bladder cancer drug approved for use but bowel cancer treatment rejected
A new treatment that could help adults suffering from a type of bladder cancer has been approved for use by the NHS in Scotland – although a drug that could help those with advanced bowel cancer has been rejected. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), the body which approves new treatments for use by the NHS, said that erdafitinib, also known by the brand name Balversa, could be used to treat adults suffering from urothelial carcinoma, a type of bladder cancer, that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery. It also approved the use of sodium thiosulfate to reduce the risk of hearing loss caused by a type of chemotherapy when this is used to treat tumours that have not spread in children aged from one month to 18 years old In addition to this, mepolizumab, also known by the brand name Nucala, was approved to treat a type of asthma called eosinophilic asthma, in both adults and children aged six and over. The drug can be used when the asthma is severe and has not been well controlled with previous treatments. SMC chair Dr Scott Muir said: 'The committee is pleased to be able to accept these new medicines for use by NHS Scotland. 'Sodium thiosulfate offers the first licensed treatment option for reducing the risk of hearing loss in children undergoing cisplatin-based chemotherapy. 'Erdafitinib offers a targeted treatment option that can be taken at home for people with bladder cancer who have already received one line of treatment.' However, the SMC said that fruquintinib, also known under the brand name Fruzaqla, was not being recommended as a treatment for adults with advanced colorectal cancer who have already received at least two lines of treatment. Dr Muir stated: 'The committee was unable to accept fruquintinib for the treatment of adults with advanced colorectal cancer. 'The company's evidence around the cost effectiveness of the treatment compared to currently available options was not sufficient.'' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
10-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Six new drugs approved for NHS use in Scotland
Six new drugs, including a treatment for patients with advanced breast cancer, have been approved for use by the NHS in Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has given the green light to three new cancer treatments as well as a drug to treat a rare type of epilepsy. Medicine that can help prevent HIV infections has also means the treatments can prescribed by NHS doctors across the a drug which has been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer's is among those not approved. The SMC, the body which approves drugs for use in the health service, said there was "uncertainty" around the "modest clinical benefit" of the drug UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has deemed the medication as efficient at slowing Alzheimer's drug is the first Alzheimer's treatment of its kind to be licensed for use in Great Britain but it has not been rolled out in England or Wales either due to the at Alzheimer Scotland said they were "disappointed" by the decision, which chief executive Henry Simmons said was "based on the medicine's cost in relation to the evidence of its clinical benefit".He said: "We remain optimistic that these initial hurdles will be overcome and, after decades of waiting, that new treatments will be approved for NHS use soon." Olaparib - which is also known under the brand name Lynparza - was approved for prescription to adults with breast cancer linked to the BRCA1 gene, or those with mutated HER2-negative advanced breast executive of Breast Cancer Now, Claire Rowney, said: "It's brilliant this targeted treatment has been made available on the NHS in Scotland."Crucially, it offers people living with incurable secondary breast cancer with an altered BRCA gene an additional drug option to help stop their cancer from progressing for longer, so they can continue doing the things that matter most to them."In addition to olaparib, the SMC approved cemiplimab for treating women with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer, where the cancer has progressed on or after also backed the use of durvalumab as a treatment together with chemotherapy for those patients with newly diagnosed extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Meanwhile, fenfluramine was approved for use to help treat a serious, rare type of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, with another drug, cabotegravir approved to help prevent sexually transmitted HIV infections in adults and adolescents who are at high risk of being the SMC backed the use of netarsudil/latanoprost for patients suffering from high pressure in the eye or the eye condition chairman Dr Scott Muir said: "The committee was pleased to be able to accept six new medicines for use by NHS Scotland."Cabotegravir, when used together with safer sex practices may help to reduce the spread of HIV, which is an ongoing priority for the Scottish government."Cemiplimab offers a second line treatment option for patients with advanced cervical cancer, where there are few others."
