New stroke treatment to save the NHS millions, says NICE

A stroke treatment decision from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) could be set to save the NHS millions of pounds.

NICE has published final guidance recommending tenecteplase, which is sold as Metalyse by Boehringer Ingelheim, as a treatment option for acute ischaemic stroke in adults.

According to clinical trial evidence, tenecteplase was just as effective as alteplase — another NICE recommendation — in breaking up blood clots or preventing new blood clots from forming after an acute ischaemic stroke. The move could save the NHS millions as tenecteplase is cheaper than alteplase.

It is estimated that almost one million people are living with the impact of stroke and 100,000 people are admitted to hospital in England with stroke annually. The vast majority (85%) of which is ischaemic stroke.

"We know that stroke is one of the biggest killers and causes of disability, therefore it is important that patients receive treatments that can help to reduce the effects of a stroke as quickly as possible,” said Helen Knight, NICE’s director of medicines evaluation.

“Today’s guidance means that not only will people who have had an ischaemic stroke be able to access a new treatment option, but the NHS could save £millions by switching to it, making it a very effective use of taxpayers’ money.”

The UK licensed tenecteplase to treat ischaemic stroke in April 2024. It is given to patients within four-and-a-half hours of symptoms starting and after brain bleeding has been ruled out.

Tenecteplase activates the production of an enzyme called plasmin which breaks down blood clots, thus restoring blood flow through the blocked artery.

The move follows NICE’s announcement that a new prostate cancer pill (relugolix, which is sold as Orgovyx by Accord) could benefit more than 40,000 people.

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