The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is consulting on a set of new indicators for GPs and commissioners designed to improve the management of atrial fibrillation and prevent thousands of case of stroke.
News
NICE widens access to ankylosing spondylitis therapy
Cost regulators for the National Health Service in England and Wales have expanded treatment options for patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Doctors’ leaders call for CQC inspection reform
A survey of GPs carried out by the British Medical Association indicates a low level of confidence in the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection regime, prompting calls for a reform of the system.
FDA fast-tracks heat stroke therapy
An investigational therapy in development for the treatment of exertional heat stroke (EHS) has been placed on a fast-track development pathway by the US Food and Drug Administration, in the hope of accelerating access to the first drug for the potentially fatal condition.
Junior doctors’ strike to go ahead
Industrial action by junior doctors in England is to go ahead after contract talks with the government reached an impasse yet again.
Scotland orders review of SMC process
Scotland’s Health Secretary Shona Robison has announced an independent review into the way medicines are assessed by the Scottish Medicines Consortium for use on the country’s National Health Service.
Six medicines line up for EU approval
Six medicines have taken a giant leap closer to European approval after being endorsed by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use.
Breakthrough status for Allergan’s antidepressant
Allergan’s experimental drug rapastinel has picked up a breakthrough therapy award in the US as an adjunctive treatment for major depressive disorder.
Novartis hits out at CDF closure
Novartis has criticised the current state of drug access in the UK after its melanoma combination of Tafinlar and Mekinist launched in the country, but is still unavailable to patients while the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) is closed to new medicines.
UK regulation of illegal drug marketing may need strengthening
Researchers are suggesting the introduction of tougher investigations into off-label marketing practices by pharma companies, as the current system seems to be largely picking up only those cases with the most visible promotional activities.
FDA OKs first drug to show survival benefit in liposarcoma
US regulators have approved Eisai’s chemotherapy Halaven as a treatment for liposarcoma, offering patients access to the first therapy shown to offer a survival benefit.
Europe widens scope of Lilly’s cancer drug Cyramza
The European Commission has green-lighted the use of Eli Lilly’s Cyramza as a treatment for patients with a certain type of lung cancer, as well as for some patients with colorectal cancer.
US clears Merck’s hepatitis C combo pill Zepatier
Merck & Co’s once-daily, single pill, fixed-combination hepatitis C drug Zepatier has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration for patients with genotype 1 and 4 infections.
EU expands use of BMS’ hepatitis drug Daklinza
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Daklinza has been cleared in Europe for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in three new difficult-to-treat patient populations.
NHS failing on diabetes care provision, audit finds
The latest national diabetes audit has revealed that the number of people with the condition receiving the whole suite of recommended annual health checks has fallen to its lowest ever level.
