NICE Clears MSD and Roche Hepatitis C Drugs for Reimbursement
The UK's cost containment agency, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), issued final draft guidance on 10 October 2013 confirming its earlier draft guidance recommending peginterferon alfa in combination with ribavirin as an option for treating chronic hepatitis C in children and young people.
Ribavirin is manufactured by Roche Products (Copegus) and MSD (Rebetol).
NICE's Appraisal Committee concluded that treatment with peginterferon alfa in combination with ribavirin can in effect provide a cure for the disease. By widening access to these drugs this guidance will give clinicians and people living with hepatitis C more treatment options.
Peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, Roche) and peginterferon alfa-2b (ViraferonPeg, MSD), in combination with ribavirin are the only treatments currently licensed in the UK for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children and adolescents.
Consultees have until October 24 to appeal the guidance or notify NICE's Appraisal Committee of any factual errors. The guidance is expected to be finalized in November.