UK'S NICE ANNOUNCES ALZHEIMER'S DRUG DECISION

The UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has announced that the appeals filed against a draft guidance on the use of drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease have not been upheld. NICE will recommend to the National Health Service (NHS) in November that Eisai's Aricept (donepezil), Johnson & Johnson's Razadyne (galantamine) and Novartis' Exelon (rivastigmine) should only be considered as options in the treatment of people with moderate Alzheimer's. Lundbeck's Exiba (memantine) is only recommended for use in clinical studies for people with moderately severe to severe Alzheimer's.

"[W]e have to be honest and say that based on all the evidence, including data presented by the drug companies themselves, our experts have concluded that these drugs do not make enough of a difference for us to recommend their use for treating all stages of Alzheimer's disease. We have recommended the use of these drugs where they have the potential to make a real difference, which is at the moderate stage of the illness," said Andrew Dillon, NICE chief executive.

Under normal circumstances, guidance to the NHS would be published at the same time as the decision of the appeal panel. However, NICE is also developing a clinical guideline on the management of all types of dementia jointly with the Social Care Institute for Excellence, so both pieces will be published at the same time in November.