NICE (Single) Technology Appraisal Guidance No 133 – Omalizumab
for severe persistent allergic asthma
NICE (Single) Technology Appraisal Guidance No 133 –
Omalizumab for severe persistent allergic asthma
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) published advice on this
medication for this indication following a second resubmission in
October 2007:
Omalizumab (Xolair®) is accepted for restricted use within NHS
Scotland as add-on therapy to improve asthma control in adult and
adolescent patients (12 years of age and above) with severe
persistent allergic asthma.
It is restricted to initiation and monitoring by hospital
physicians experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of severe
persistent asthma. It is restricted to patients who are prescribed
chronic systemic steroids and in whom all other treatments have
failed. The response to omalizumab treatment should be assessed in
all patients at 16 weeks and treatment should be discontinued in
patients who have not shown a marked improvement in overall asthma
control.
Access the advice of the Scottish Medicines Consortium
In this case, there is no material difference between the
NICE STA and the SMC recommendation.
NHSScotland should note that:
1. NHS Boards should
continue to adhere to the SMC advice.
2. The new NICE single
technology appraisal process is being monitored by NHS Quality
Improvement Scotland, Scottish Government Health Directorates and
SMC for a period of time. During this period recommendations of
NICE STAs will be only for noting by NHS Scotland in the knowledge
that SMC have already issued advice on the medicine which
NHSScotland should follow.
3. Hard copies of NICE
appraisals are available from NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
(contact Shonagh Buchanan, tel 0141 225 6993 or email shonagh.buchanan@nhs.net).
Published Date: 28 November 2007
