MS drug closer to medical card approval
The drug has now been deemed a cost-effective treatment by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, the agency responsible for recommending medicines for the public system.
It comes more than two years after Tysabri threatened the future of pharmaceutical company Elan when it was linked to the death of a patient during a clinical trial in America.
It was much better news for Elan and its partners Biogen Idec yesterday, however, when it got the thumbs-up from the pharmaceutical economists.
Commenting on the news Professor Michael Hutchinson, neurologist at St Vincent’s Hospital, said the expense of the drug could not compare with the toll the disease took on sufferers.
“Tysabri’s cost-effectiveness was based on its efficacy in reducing both disease activity and disease progression, thus preventing personal and State costs that accrue as a result of loss of function in patients.
“These costs included loss of earned income, social welfare, medical expenses and physical aids such as wheelchairs,” he said.
The review committee accepted test results which found the drug reduces the symptoms for MS sufferers by 68%.
The recommendations will now be forwarded to the Department of Health. Its approval will be needed before public patients will be administered the drug.
MS Ireland has welcomed the decision. Chief executive Anne Winslow said the current system, whereby only those who could afford private health care can avail of the drug, was not fair.
“One of many treatments for MS, Tysabri is currently available on a limited basis from individual hospitals. If two patients with exactly the same condition go to different hospitals one might get the treatment and one might not.
“We would like the Department of Health to make funds available so that all Irish patients can receive the most appropriate medication for them, irrespective of their address,” she said.
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