SMC Update - August 2023
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has issued its monthly advice on newly licensed medicines.
Dapagliflozin (Forxiga®) has been accepted for use in the treatment of symptomatic chronic heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >40%. It is noted that this drug offers an additional treatment choice in the therapeutic class.
Icosapent ethyl (Vazkepa®) has been accepted for restricted use to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in adult statin-treated patients at high cardiovascular risk with elevated triglycerides (≥1.7mmol/L) and
- established cardiovascular disease, or
- diabetes, and at least one other cardiovascular risk factor.
The restriction limits use to secondary prevention in patients treated with a stable dose of statins, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels >1.04mmol/L and ≤2.60mmol/L, raised fasting triglycerides (≥1.7mmol/L) and with established cardiovascular disease as defined within the published advice.
Action: Clinicians should be aware of the recommendations of the SMC. Routine use of rejected and restricted medicines should be avoided.
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