Ref: NICE 2001/008

Issued: 15 February 2001

Press Statement

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has conducted two separate appraisals of zanamivir (Relenza). The first was a fast track evaluation, which resulted in guidance to the NHS in October 1999 with a review date of September 2000; and the second utilised the Institute's full appraisal process and resulted in the guidance issued in November 2000.

The Institute is satisfied that its guidance on zanamivir is robust and is in the best interests of patients who rely on the NHS for their care. The Institute's processes for accessing and interpreting evidence are rigorous and its arrangements for consulting on its conclusions are comprehensive.

The NHS expects health professionals to take the Institute's guidance fully into account.

The Institute's guidance is regularly updated and the Institute will be reviewing zanamivir again in 2002.

Ends

Notes for Editors:

1. NICE is a Special Health Authority and provides guidance based on both the clinical and cost effectiveness of technologies, to the NHS in England and Wales.
   
2. To date the Institute has issued guidance on 20 technologies including the use of Taxanes for Ovarian and Breast Cancer, Ritalin for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Drug's for Alzheimer's disease.
   
3. The full guidance issued to the NHS is available to the public on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk. It can also be requested by telephoning 0870 1555 455 and quoting reference number 22603. A patient version is also available.
   
4. NICE follows the same open, structured and widely publicised process for all its technology appraisals. This process was developed following public consultation. Details of the process and the membership of the Appraisal Committee are published on the Institute's web site (www.nice.org.uk). In brief summary:
 
  • Submissions of evidence are made by from patient/carer groups, the national bodies that represent healthcare professionals and the manufacturer. - These are known as the stakeholders
  • The Institute quality assures these submissions and commissions an independent review of the published evidence.
  • The Appraisal Committee meets (without members who have a declared interest) and considers the evidence of both clinical and cost effectiveness and hears verbal evidence from health professionals and patients/ carers.
  • They then produce a Provisional Appraisal Determination (their first thoughts) this document is circulated to all stakeholders for consultation.
  • The committee meets again and considers the original evidence in light of the feedback it receives from the consultation.
  • They then produce a final appraisal determination that is circulated to the same stakeholders who have the opportunity to appeal if they remain aggrieved.
  • The Institute issues its guidance to the NHS in England and Wales and provides patient versions to the public and patient/carer groups.
  • The whole process takes an average of 12 months.
3. There were no appeals in respect of the full appraisal of zanamivir
   
4. For zanamivir (Relenza) the stakeholders were:
 
  • British Medical Association (BMA)
  • British Geriatrics Society
  • British Lung Foundation
  • British Society for Anti-microbial Chemotherapy
  • British Thoracic Society
  • Faculty of Public Health Medicine
  • National Asthma Campaign
  • Public Health Laboratory Service
  • Royal College of General Practitioners
  • Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
  • GlaxoWellcome UK