The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has issued its monthly advice on newly licensed medicines.
Aclidinium (Eklira®) has been accepted for use as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Adalimumab (Humira®) has been rejected for use in the treatment of moderately active Crohn's disease, in adult patients who have not responded despite a full and adequate course of therapy with a corticosteroid and/or an immunosuppressant; or who are intolerant to or have medical contraindications for such therapies. The manufacturer failed to make a submission.
Nepafenac (Nevanac®) has been accepted for use to reduce the risk of postoperative macular oedema associated with cataract surgery in diabetic patients.
Ranolazine (Ranexa®) has been rejected for use as add-on therapy for the symptomatic treatment of patients with stable angina pectoris who are inadequately controlled or intolerant to first-line antianginal therapies. The manufacturer failed to make a sufficiently robust clinical and economic case.
Action: Clinicians should be aware of the recommendations of the SMC. Routine use of rejected and restricted medicines should be avoided.