The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has published advice pertaining to the acceptance of two new therapies for use by NHS Scotland.
Benralizumab (Fasenra) has been accepted as an add-on therapy for severe eosinophilic asthma in adults whose symptoms are not adequately controlled by high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting ß-agonists. However, its use is restricted to patients with blood eosinophils ≥150 cells/microlitre, and either ≥4 previous asthma exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids in the past 12 months or continuous administration of oral corticosteroids over the past six months.
Evidence showed that benralizumab decreased asthma exacerbation rates and significantly lowered the dose requirement for continuous oral corticosteroid while maintaining stable asthma vs placebo in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.
Patisiran (Onpattro) has been accepted for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR amyloidosis) in adults with stage I or stage II polyneuropathy. The acceptance came after its submission was evaluated by the SMC under the ultra-orphan medicine process.
Evidence from a phase 3 study of adults with hATTR amyloidosis and polyneuropathy showed that patisiran was associated with substantial improvements vs placebo, determined by a change in modified neuropathy impairment score +7 (mNIS+7) from baseline to 18 months.
The SMC advice considers the benefits of a 'Patient Access Scheme' that improves the cost-effectiveness of the two drugs.
