- Prescribing Advice for GPs - https://www.prescriber.org.uk -

SMC Update - November 2014

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has issued its monthly advice on newly licensed medicines.

Brinzolamide and brimonidine eye drops (Simbrinza®) have been accepted for use to decrease of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in adult patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension for whom monotherapy provides insufficient IOP reduction. It is noted that this combination is not significantly more expensive and allows patients to administer fewer drops.

Denosumab (Prolia®) has been rejected for the treatment of osteoporosis in men at increased risk of fractures. The manufacturer failed to make a submission and as a result this treatment cannot be recommended.

Saxagliptin (Onglyza®) has been accepted for use in adult patients aged 18 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycaemic control as combination therapy with insulin (with or without metformin), when this regimen alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycaemic control.

Voriconazole (Vfend®) has been rejected for the prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections in high risk allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. The manufacturer failed to make a submission and as a result this treatment cannot be recommended.

Action: Clinicians should be aware of the recommendations of the SMC. Routine use of rejected and restricted medicines should be avoided.