"Ban lifted on dementia drugs"
( but read on - it's not as rosey as it seems, particularly for early stage AD sufferers & their carers)
Key drugs for people with moderate dementia will continue to be available on the NHS under revised plans unveiled by the treatment watchdog.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provoked uproar in March last year when it published draft guidance which stated that drug treatments for Alzheimer's were not cost-effective enough to be available on the NHS.
The announcement reveals its Appraisal Committee is now recommending three drugs should be "considered as options in the treatment of people with Alzheimer's disease of moderate severity only".
The news prompted a mixed reaction from drug companies and Alzheimer's support groups, the latter expressing relief at the withdrawal of the "blanket ban", but with concerns it could see treatments denied to people in the early and late stages of dementia.
Andrew Dillon, NICE Chief Executive and Executive Lead for the appraisal, said: "We are acutely aware of our responsibility to help people with Alzheimer's disease secure access to effective treatment. We needed to make the right decision, based on all the relevant evidence.
"By going the extra mile and asking the drug companies to delve deeper into their clinical trial data, we have been able to identify the right way to use these medicines.
"People with Alzheimer's will now receive these drugs when they can help them most.
"Patients and those who care for them will be able to feel more confident about gaining benefit from them and the NHS will know that it is using its funds to best effect."
Last year's draft guidance was widely condemned and NICE received an unprecedented response from doctors and campaigners calling for a rethink of its conclusions.
In the draft, NICE accepted that donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine - known as cholinesterase inhibitors - were effective in alleviating the symptoms of Alzheimer's, but were not cost-effective for NHS use.
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Source: AOL News Service
And yes, I know I'm repeating this post elsewhere
( but read on - it's not as rosey as it seems, particularly for early stage AD sufferers & their carers)
Key drugs for people with moderate dementia will continue to be available on the NHS under revised plans unveiled by the treatment watchdog.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provoked uproar in March last year when it published draft guidance which stated that drug treatments for Alzheimer's were not cost-effective enough to be available on the NHS.
The announcement reveals its Appraisal Committee is now recommending three drugs should be "considered as options in the treatment of people with Alzheimer's disease of moderate severity only".
The news prompted a mixed reaction from drug companies and Alzheimer's support groups, the latter expressing relief at the withdrawal of the "blanket ban", but with concerns it could see treatments denied to people in the early and late stages of dementia.
Andrew Dillon, NICE Chief Executive and Executive Lead for the appraisal, said: "We are acutely aware of our responsibility to help people with Alzheimer's disease secure access to effective treatment. We needed to make the right decision, based on all the relevant evidence.
"By going the extra mile and asking the drug companies to delve deeper into their clinical trial data, we have been able to identify the right way to use these medicines.
"People with Alzheimer's will now receive these drugs when they can help them most.
"Patients and those who care for them will be able to feel more confident about gaining benefit from them and the NHS will know that it is using its funds to best effect."
Last year's draft guidance was widely condemned and NICE received an unprecedented response from doctors and campaigners calling for a rethink of its conclusions.
In the draft, NICE accepted that donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine - known as cholinesterase inhibitors - were effective in alleviating the symptoms of Alzheimer's, but were not cost-effective for NHS use.
******
Source: AOL News Service
And yes, I know I'm repeating this post elsewhere