The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has announced new guidance on seven treatments for NHS Scotland, including cancer, type 2 diabetes and more.
Advanced endometrial cancer patients will benefit from dostarlimab, marketed as Jemperli, as it was accepted when used in conjunction with chemotherapy.
A similar decision was made in England following National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approval earlier this year.
Dr Scott Muir, SMC chair, expects the decision to be welcomed by patients and clinicians, partly due to the lack of treatment options for advanced endometrial cancer.
NHS Scotland patients with a heart condition known as obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy will benefit from mavacamten – sold as Camzyos.
This is a condition which causes the muscles in the heart to thicken or enlarge, leading to blocks in blood flow to the rest of the body.
The SMC’s recommendation of ritlecitinib, or Litfulo, as a treatment for severe alopecia also follows a NICE green light earlier in 2024.
“Ritlecitinib is the first medicine that SMC has accepted”
Tirzepatide, otherwise known as Mounjaro, has also been accepted as a type 2 diabetes treatment, if it is used alongside dieting and exercise.
Other guidance includes:
- Daridorexant (Quviviq) being accepted for adults who have had insomnia for over three months
- Mirikizumab (Omvoh) as a treatment of ulcerative colitis in adults being accepted
- Glycopyrronium bromide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate (Bevespi Aerosphere) being accepted for treating adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
“We are very pleased to be able to accept these seven new medicines for use by NHS Scotland,” added Scott.
He said: “Alopecia can have a big impact on people’s quality of life. Ritlecitinib is the first medicine that SMC has accepted for this condition for routine use in NHS Scotland.
“Our decision on mavacamten will be welcomed by patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and their families, as this is the first licensed treatment to specifically target the underlying cause of this impactful heart condition.”
The latest innovations from the pharmaceutical industry will be explored in National Health Executive’s Life Sciences online conference – click here to register.
Image credit: iStock
