NICE Recommends UCB’s Fintepla for Dravet Syndrome-Related Seizures

The UK’s National Institute for Healthcare Excellence (NICE) has recommended UCB’s Fintepla (fenfluramine) for National Health Service (NHS) use in patients with Dravet syndrome-associated seizures who are age two years and older.

However, NICE said the drug should be given as an add-on to two other antiepileptic medicines and that the frequency of convulsive seizures should be assessed every six months.

The recommendation was based on clinical trial results that showed Fintepla, when added to standard-of-care medicines, reduced the number of convulsive seizures.

The agency also determined that Fintepla’s cost-effectiveness estimates are within the range that is considered acceptable for use of NHS resources. The UK list price of Fintepla is more than $1,100 per 60 milliliter bottle. After initial titration, patients receive an ongoing maintenance dose. The discounted price for NHS use was not disclosed.