NICE 2002/035
Issued: 24 June 2002

PRESS RELEASE

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently developing guidance for the NHS on the use of human growth hormone for adults. The Institute has not yet made a final decision on this appraisal, and no recommendations have been issued to the NHS.

The final appraisal determination (FAD) for human growth hormone for adults was sent to consultee organisations representing patients, professionals and manufacturers on the 18 June 2002 and they have 10 working days to determine whether or not they wish to appeal. The closing date for lodging any appeal in this appraisal is Wednesday 3 July 2002.

Throughout the appraisal process the Institute has consulted with organisations representing patients and carers, health professionals and manufacturers. Patient representatives and endocrinologists have presented both verbal and written evidence to the Appraisal Committee.

The appraisal of human growth hormone for adults was initiated in March 2001 and is being completed under the Institute's original appraisal process. This means the Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) will not be posted on the Institute's website.

The Institute will not be issuing any further comment on the content of the FAD until the final guidance is issued to the NHS.

Ends

Notes for Editors

  1. The FAD does not constitute the Institute's formal guidance to the NHS on this technology. Guidance will not be issued until the results of any appeals are known. The earliest guidance could be available is the end of July 2002. If appeals are lodged the timelines will be extended to allow time for the appeals to be heard.
  2. Consultee organisations representing patients, healthcare professionals and manufacturers in the Institute's appraisal of human growth hormone are listed on the NICE website at http://www.nice.org.uk/cat.asp?c=20253.
  3. As part of the Institute's published technology appraisal process members of the Appraisal Committee are required to declare relevant interests at Board, committee and sub-committee meetings. Where a member declares a personal specific interest (he or she has at any time worked on the technology under consideration and received payment for that work) or personal non-specific interest (he or she has a current personal interest in the company manufacturing the technology under consideration), they take no part in the proceedings relating to the technology and will normally leave the meeting until the matter has been concluded.
  4. The original technology appraisal process is still applicable to this topic as it was one of the 4th wave of topics referred to the Institute by the Department of Health and Welsh Assembly Government. Under the new process, which started with the 5th wave, the FAD is published on the Institute's website.