Alimera's ILUVIEN gets final draft guidance from UK's NICE
Biopharmaceutical Company Alimera Sciences, Inc that specializes in research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals has said that United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has issued a final draft guidance indicating that ILUVIEN is not recommended to treat chronic diabetic macular edema.
The Appraisal Committee acknowledged the clinical effectiveness of ILUVIEN® in the treatment of vision impairment associated with chronic DME considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies.
As per the response to final draft guidance, Alimera said it is now developing a patient access scheme to address the Appraisal Committee’s cost concerns that create a barrier to access for people in the UK with chronic DME who might benefit from ILUVIEN.
The goal of the PAS will be to determine the appropriate pricing for ILUVIEN in order to ensure that treatment decisions are based on patient need rather than cost.
Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Southampton, Andrew Lotery said, “I am pleased that NICE has recognized that ILUVIEN® is clinically effective for chronic diabetic macular oedema. I am hopeful that this sustained-release therapy will become available to the thousands of people affected with diabetes in the UK.”
Dan Myers, President and CEO, Alimera said, “In recognition of the ongoing process with NICE, we have immediately begun to develop a Patient Access scheme which, if accepted, will make ILUVIEN available to all chronic DME patients in the United Kingdom considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies.”
Alimera Sciences, Inc is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Currently, Alimera is focused on diseases affecting the back of the eye, or retina. Its primary product, ILUVIEN, is an intravitreal implant containing fluocinolone acetenoide, a non-proprietary corticosteroid with demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of ocular disease.