NICE U-turn on Alzheimer's guidance
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
NICE has today backtracked on earlier controversial guidance rejecting Pfizer/Eisai's Aricept (donepezil), Shire's Reminyl (galantamine) and Novartis's Exelon (rivastigmine) for treating patients with mild Alzheimer's disease as well as Lunbeck's Ebixa (memantine) for severe disease. Some new evidence and a new economic model looking at the cost-effectiveness of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are key to the change of heart.