Appendix B: Sources of evidence considered by the Committee

The assessment report for this appraisal was prepared by Southampton Health Technology Assessments Centre:

  • Hartwell D, Jones J, Baxter L, et al. (2009) Peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C in patients eligible for shortened treatment, re-treatment or in HCV/HIV co-infection: a systematic review and economic evaluation.

The following organisations accepted the invitation to participate in this appraisal as consultees and commentators. They were invited to comment on the draft scope, assessment report and the appraisal consultation document (ACD). Manufacturers/sponsors, professional/specialist and patient/carer groups, and other consultees were also invited to make written submissions and have the opportunity to appeal against the final appraisal determination.

  • Manufacturers/sponsors:

    • Roche Products

    • Schering-Plough (during the course of the appraisal, Schering-Plough merged with Merck Sharp & Dohme)

  • Professional/specialist and patient/carer groups:

    • Association of Medical Microbiologists

    • British Association for the Study of the Liver

    • British Association for the Study of the Liver Nurses Forum

    • British Infection Society

    • British Liver Trust

    • British Society of Gastroenterology

    • British Viral Hepatitis Group

    • Haemophilia Alliance

    • Haemophilia Society

    • Hepatitis C Trust

    • Royal College of Nursing

    • Royal College of Pathologists

    • Royal College of Physicians

    • South Asian Health Foundation

  • Other consultees:

    • Department of Health

    • Welsh Assembly Government

  • Commentator organisations (without the right of appeal):

    • Commissioning Support Appraisals Service

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

    • Foundation for Liver Research

    • MRC Clinical Trials Unit

    • NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

The following individuals were selected from clinical specialist and patient expert nominations from the non-manufacturer/sponsor consultees and commentators. They participated in the appraisal committee discussions and provided evidence to inform the appraisal committee's deliberations. They gave their expert personal view on peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C by attending the initial committee discussion and/or providing written evidence to the committee. They were also invited to comment on the ACD.

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

  • Mr Charles Gore, nominated by the Hepatitis C Trust – patient expert

  • Ms Raquel Jose, nominated by the Hepatitis C Trust – patient expert.

Representatives from the following manufacturers/sponsors attended Committee meetings. They contributed only when asked by the Committee chair to clarify specific issues and comment on factual accuracy.

  • Roche Products

  • Schering-Plough (during the course of the appraisal, Schering-Plough merged with Merck Sharp & Dohme).

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)