Dive Brief:
- Britain's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is recommending Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) as a treatment option for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
- This is a direct reversal of NICE’s position in February, when the institute chose not to recommend Tecfidera, citing concerns about cost effectiveness and clinical efficacy.
- Tecfidera is priced at $30,620 per year in the UK.
Dive Insight:
NICE is recommending Tecfidera for adult patients with RRMS, but not for patients with highly active MS, or MS that is progressing rapidly. NICE has already recommended Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), Tsyabri (natalizumab) and Gilenza (fingolimod) for treating more aggressive MS. Nick Rijke, director for policy and research at the MS Society, said, “Tecfidera is proven to be safe and effective in treating MS and for many people it will be much easier to live with because it’s taken in a pill form.”