NICE Rejects Novartis's Gilenya

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), UK has failed to back the Novartis's multiple sclerosis pill Gilenya (Fingolimod) on the grounds that it is not a cost-effective treatment option. This means patients may only be able to take Gilenya if they have private medical insurance.

Despite having offered discount, NICE estimated that the annual cost of the drug would stand around 19,196 pounds. While Novartis's competitor Biogen Idec's injectable Avonex costs 9,061 pounds

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NICE's final decision is due in April. Till then Novartis has some time to either submit new data or revise its access scheme.

Source-Medindia

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