NICE u-turn backs use of Teva’s asthma biologic

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is now backing routine NHS commissioning of Teva’s Cinqaero to treat a severe form of asthma after having initially been minded to block the drug’s use. The cost regulator has issued a Final Appraisal Determination outlining its support for Cinqaero (reslizumab) to treat patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, where inflammation and narrowing of the airways can result in uncontrolled symptoms and serious asthma attacks. In November NICE said it was minded not to recommend its routine use by the NHS, and asked for further clarification and an updated cost-effectiveness model for its appraisal of the therapy.