Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Lucenetis Snub by Brit’s Health Dept

"Just weeks before the publication of a pivotal trial in the U.S. that could jeopardize sales of eye care medicine Lucentis, Britain's health services cost watchdog Friday denied reimbursement for the drug in cases of a diabetic-related eye disease," reports WSJ.com. "The medicine, which was developed by Roche Holding AG (ROG.VX) and Novartis AG (NVS), which markets it in Europe, is under pressure from regulators, who are wary of the drug's high price amid attempts from doctors to use Roche's cheaper cancer treatment Avastin to treat vision loss. Although the final verdict is still pending, the U.K.'s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, or NICE, said that while Lucentis is effective in treating diabetic macular oedema, the drug's elevated price was problematic."

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