2001/29 Appraisal of Beta Interferon and Glatiramer for Multiple Sclerosis
NICE 2001/ 29
Issued: 07 August 2001
Press Release
Due to the media speculation surrounding the Institute's appraisal of beta interferon and glatiramer for multiple sclerosis, the Institute has decided to publish the Provisional Appraisal Determination on its website.
This is a consultation document only. NICE has NOT issued guidance on the use of beta interferon and glatiramer. The consultation document has been circulated to the consultees (national patient and professional organisations, manufacturers and the Department of Health and National Assembly for Wales) so they can comment on it.
The provisional conclusions of the Appraisal Committee on these medicines is that:
- on the balance of their clinical and cost effectiveness neither beta interferon nor glatiramer acetate is recommended for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the NHS in England and Wales.
- it is likely that patients currently receiving beta interferon or glatiramer acetate for MS would suffer loss of well being if their treatment is discontinued at a time they did not anticipate. Because of this, patients and their consultants may wish to continue therapy until they consider it is appropriate to stop, having regard to the criteria established for withdrawal from treatment in the Guidelines of the Association of British Neurologists published in January 2001.
- the Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales, and manufacturers, might usefully consider what actions could be taken, jointly, to enable any of the four medicines appraised for this guidance to be secured for patients in the NHS in England and Wales, in a manner which could be considered to be cost effective.
Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive of NICE said,"These provisional conclusions are now the subject of consultation. The Institute considers them to be robust, but it is important that the national patient and professional organisations, manufacturers and the other consultees have the opportunity to comment both on our interpretation of the evidence and our conclusions."
Notes for Editors.
| 1. | The Consultation document (PAD) is published on the web site for information only. The consultation period closes on 11 September 2001. Those wishing to make comments on the Provisional Appraisal Determination should do so through the designated consultees. Details of the consultees can be found in point 4 below. Although the Institute will respond to any correspondence, comments from individuals cannot be included in the formal consultation. | |
| 2. | The Appraisal Committee will meet again on the 25th of September 2001 to consider the comments from the consultees. After which they will produce a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) on which the consultees may appeal. If the Institute receives no appeals, guidance will be issued as soon as possible after the close of appeal. The earliest likely date for the issue of guidance is November 2001. If any appeals are received these will be heard by an Appeal Panel. | |
| 3. | Consultees in this appraisal | |
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| 4. | For further details on the appraisal of beta interferon and glatiramer for multiple sclerosis please visit the Institute's website at www.nice.org.uk and use the search engine in the top right corner of the Institute's web site. By typing in "multiple" the search engine will bring up all the documents available on this appraisal. | |
| 5. | The following are some of the documents published on our web site that you may find useful. | |
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| 6. | The decision to publish the consultation document at this time was made using 'Chairman's Action'. The Institute does not normally comment on an appraisal until the appraisal process has been completed and the guidance has been published. | |
| However at it's meeting on February 6th 2001 the Board agreed that if confidential appraisal documentation is released without the Institute's permission, the Institute would reserve the right to comment. | ||
| The decision to make such a comment during an appraisal is taken by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Institute on the recommendation of two executive directors. Consultees are informed of the decision as soon as practicably possible. | ||
This page was last updated: 01 July 2009
