The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published a review where it rejects the use of Xolair as treatment for severe asthma. The reasoning behind this recommendation is said to be based on recent evidence primarily regarding mortality and cost-effectiveness of the treatment. At the moment, the recommendation is not final. But if the review is finalised, then the decision is likely to affect individuals England and Wales.
Xolair is a treatment most commonly prescribed for individuals with moderate to severe allergic asthma, which is caused by constant allergens in the air. The treatment, which works by blocking immunogloin antibodies, can cost between £1665 and £26640 per patient per year depending on the dosage required. Currently, it is estimated that 7000 individuals in England are eligible for the treatment.
Although Sir Andrew Dillon (chief executive of NICE) has recognized that Xolair is an effective treatment, new evidence has come to light and he has stated that the cost of treatment now outweighs its benefits. However, Neil Churchill (the chief executive of Asthma UK) has expressed disappointment over this recommendation and urged the manufacturers to collaborate with NICE in order to attempt to make the treatment affordable for NHS patients.
The review is due to be finalised in 2013 and it is likely to first affect patients in England and Wales, and then be put through a review in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Patients who are currently being treated with Xolair will be allowed to continue to do so.