HC Deb 15 January 2001 vol 361 cc51-3W
Mr. Laxton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's decision on Beta Interferon has been delayed; and on what date NICE will announce its decision. [145204]

Mr. Denham

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has extended the timescale of its appraisal of Beta Interferon and the drug glatiramer acetate to develop further economic modelling on these drugs.

We expect NICE to consult on draft guidance during the summer, on completion of its work on the economic modelling.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects NICE to make its recommendations on the efficacy of(a) Beta Interferon and (b) Copaxone; and if he will ask NICE to consider the merits of the two drugs separately. [144859]

Mr. Denham

We expect the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to consult on draft guidance later this year, following the development of further economic modelling on Beta Interferon and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone). Further details can be found on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk. NICE is giving individual consideration to Beta Interferon and glatiramer acetate.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to modify his Department's 1995 advice on drug therapies for MS to include Copaxone; and if he will make a statement. [144858]

Mr. Denham

There are no plans to modify Executive Letter 95(97) issued by the Department in 1995 to include glatiramer acetate (Copaxone).

The Department issued Health Service Circular 1999/176 in August 1999. This asks National Health Service bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is not available at the time the technology first became available. These arrangements should involve an assessment of all the available evidence.

We expect NICE to produce authoritative guidance on both Beta Interferon and glatiramer acetate later this year.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of health authority compliance with current guidance in respect of disease modifying therapies for MS. [144773]

Mr. Denham

Current guidance issued in 1995 recommends that health authorities should have in place arrangements for hospital specialists to initiate treatment in light of the available evidence and local priorities.

Health authorities and clinicians have made different judgments because there is no authoritative guidance. We expect the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to produce such guidance later this year.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if existing NHS guidance in respect of disease modifying therapies for MS will apply to(a) Copaxone and (b) other drugs licensed by the MCA. [144774]

Mr. Denham

No. Executive Letter 95(97) issued by the Department in 1995 does not apply to glatiramer acetate (Copaxone).

The Department did however issue Health Service Circular 1999/176 in August 1999 which asked National Health Service bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is not available at the time the technology first becomes available. These arrangements should involve an assessment of all the available evidence.

We expect NICE to produce authoritative guidance on both Beta Interferon and glatiramer acetate later this year.