The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has confirmed the approval of a new injectable asthma drug from GlaxoSmithKline Plc (NYSE:GSK). Nucala, a first-in-class antibody treatment had earlier suffered a major setback of rejection, which had been occasioned by cost-effectiveness concerns. NICE had also claimed that the drug would be used in less severe cases. It is currently running at the cost of 840 pounds sterline ($1,050) per dose. Apparently, since its launch, Nucala has been in the limelight not only by NICE but also self-appointed U.S. price watchdog ICER.
Further analysis saved the medication
According to Carole Longson, NICE center for health technology evaluation director, about 100,000 people in the UK suffer from asthma. Unfortunately, the condition is so severe that it cannot be controlled with their conventional medicines. Besides, they have limited treatment options. However, after the rejection, GSK agreed to go back to the drawing board before coming back with an enhanced analysis on Nucala’s use alongside an additional price reduction. This is what translated to the recommendation of the anti-IL-5 asthma treatment.
The approval somewhat positioned the London-based company in a favorable situation in the severe asthma field. It escapes the mixed success that many businesses have had to endure in the recent months at England’s cost gatekeepers. Hundreds of people will now be able to take control of their asthma. The medication is administered by injection every four weeks.
Potential to transform lives
Kay Boycott, chief executive of the charity Asthma UK notes, “Not only should it improve some people’s symptoms and reduce the risk of life-threatening asthma attacks, but we also hope it will reduce their reliance on high doses of corticosteroids, which can have unpleasant and harmful side effects in the long term.”
Due to lack of options, many people have attempted the use of oral corticosteroids, which in return cause other complications the likes of diabetes, high blood pressure, and mood swings. Asthma attacks, which have constant breathlessness as one of the major symptoms come without any warning. Hence people always fear going out. To the very extreme, they may lead to hospitalization and in the worst cases, death. Meanwhile, GSK’s stock was trading at $37.43 a decrease of $0.36 or 0.95%.