ANOTHER POS DOG COURTESY OF NOFARTUS !
http://www.rttnews.com/Content/BreakingNews.aspx?Node=B1&Id=1666086
Novartis Eye Drug Lucentis Fails To Win NICE Support For Diabetic Use In UK
7/15/2011 12:16
(RTTNews) - The UK's health-cost watchdog National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, or NICE, Friday did not recommend Novartis' eye drug Lucentis, or ranibizumab, for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema, or DMO, stating it was not cost-effective compared to standard laser therapy.
Ranibizumab, an injection into the eye, prevents the production of endothelial growth factor, or VEGF. Preventing the production of VEGF can decrease the build-up of excess fluid and limit visual loss or improve vision.
Ranibizumab costs 742.17 pounds per injection and is given monthly until the patient's visual acuity is stable over three consecutive monthly assessments. NICE said Novartis' "analysis produced a cost per QALY gained that was at the upper limit of the range NICE considers to represent an effective use of NHS resources."
The panel found that the analyses were based on implausible assumptions and that if more plausible assumptions had been used, the cost per QALY gained would substantially exceed this range
http://www.rttnews.com/Content/BreakingNews.aspx?Node=B1&Id=1666086
Novartis Eye Drug Lucentis Fails To Win NICE Support For Diabetic Use In UK
7/15/2011 12:16
(RTTNews) - The UK's health-cost watchdog National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, or NICE, Friday did not recommend Novartis' eye drug Lucentis, or ranibizumab, for the treatment of diabetic macular oedema, or DMO, stating it was not cost-effective compared to standard laser therapy.
Ranibizumab, an injection into the eye, prevents the production of endothelial growth factor, or VEGF. Preventing the production of VEGF can decrease the build-up of excess fluid and limit visual loss or improve vision.
Ranibizumab costs 742.17 pounds per injection and is given monthly until the patient's visual acuity is stable over three consecutive monthly assessments. NICE said Novartis' "analysis produced a cost per QALY gained that was at the upper limit of the range NICE considers to represent an effective use of NHS resources."
The panel found that the analyses were based on implausible assumptions and that if more plausible assumptions had been used, the cost per QALY gained would substantially exceed this range