SMC March Update

March 11, 2008 at 2:40 pm | In Prescribing Extra - Drugs |

The Scottish Medicines Consortium has issued its monthly advice on new medicines.

Zoledronic acid infusion (Aclasta^®) has been accepted for restricted use in patients who are unsuitable for or unable to tolerate oral treatment options for osteoporosis.

Salmeterol / fluticasone 50/500 micrograms inhaler (Seretide 500 Accuhaler^®) was rejected for the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive airways disease (COPD), with a forced expiration volume in 1 second (FEV1) 50 to <60% predicted normal. The manufacturer did not present a sufficiently robust economic case to gain acceptance.

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