Review decision – March 2018

Decision to move the existing guidance to the static list

We would like to update you on the decision made regarding the review of the existing guidance on TA336; Empagliflozin for treating type 2 diabetes.

Empagliflozin was recommended in 2015 as an optimised recommendation in-line with guidance produced for its key comparators. The committee considered this appropriate as the incremental differences between the costs and QALYs for empagliflozin and its key comparators canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and sitagliptin were small, and it concluded that empagliflozin should be recommended as an option for the same populations. There has been no new comparative evidence identified which would change this recommendation and TA315, the related guidance for canagliflozin in combination therapy, was moved to the static list in October 2017.

Overall, since TA336 was published, new data has emerged suggesting that empagliflozin may be effective in reducing cardiovascular events for people with type 2 diabetes at high risk for cardiovascular events. Some safety issues have been highlighted by regulators in Europe and the US for a related technology. This new evidence is unlikely to lead to changes in the recommendations in the original guidance. 

NICE’s Guidance Executive has decided to proceed with this proposal without consultation.

Consequently, TA336 will be transferred to the ‘static guidance list’.

Review decision paper

This page was last updated: