Appendix B: Sources of evidence considered by the Committee

A. The Evidence Review Group (ERG) report for this appraisal was prepared by Southampton Health Technology Assessments Centre:

  • Hartwell D, Jones J, Harris P et al. Telbivudine as treatment for chronic hepatitis B, February 2008.

B. The following organisations accepted the invitation to participate in this appraisal. They were invited to comment on the draft scope, the ERG report and the appraisal consultation document (ACD). Organisations listed in I were also invited to make written submissions. Organisations listed in II and III had the opportunity to give their expert views. Organisations listed in I II and III also had the opportunity to appeal against the final appraisal determination.

I) Manufacturer/sponsor:

  • Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd (telbivudine)

II) Professional/specialist and patient/carer groups:

  • Association of Clinical Microbiologists

  • Association of Medical Microbiologists

  • British Association for the Study of the Liver

  • British Association for the Study of the Liver Nurses Forum (BASLNF)

  • British Infection Society

  • British Society of Gastroenterology

  • Chinese National Healthy Living Centre

  • Hepatitis B Foundation UK

  • Royal College of Nursing

  • Royal College of Pathologists

  • Royal College of Physicians

  • South Asian Health Foundation

III) Other consultees

  • Bury PCT

  • Department of Health

  • Welsh Assembly Government

  • Worcestershire PCT

IV) Commentator organisations (did not provide written evidence and without the right of appeal)

  • Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Ltd (entecavir)

  • Department of Health, Social Services and Public Health Safety for Northern Ireland

  • Gilead Sciences (adefovir dipivoxil)

  • National Collaborating Centre for Women and Children's Health

  • National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment

  • NHS Quality Improvement Scotland

  • Roche Products Limited (interferon alfa 2a, peginterferon alfa 2a)

  • Schering-Plough Ltd (interferon alfa 2a, interferon alfa 2b)

  • Southampton Health Technology Assessment Centre (SHTAC)

C. The following individuals were selected from clinical specialist and patient advocate nominations from the non-manufacturer/sponsor consultees and commentators. They gave their expert personal view on telbivudine by attending the initial Committee discussion and providing written evidence to the Committee. They were also invited to comment on the ACD.

  • Professor Howard Thomas, nominated by the British Society of Gastroenterologists – clinical specialist

  • Dr Elizabeth Boxall, nominated by the Association of Clinical Microbiologists – clinical specialist

  • Professor Geoffrey Dusheiko, nominated by the Royal College of Physicians – clinical specialist

  • Penny Wilson Webb, nominated by Hepatitis B Foundation UK – patient expert

  • Robert Windsor, nominated by Hepatitis B Foundation UK
    – patient expert

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)