NICE Recommends UCB’s Fintepla for Dravet Syndrome-Related Seizures
The UK’s National Institute for Healthcare Excellence (NICE) has recommended UCB’s Fintepla (fenfluramine) for National Health Service (NHS) use in patients with Dravet syndrome-associated seizures who are age two years and older.
However, NICE said the drug should be given as an add-on to two other antiepileptic medicines and that the frequency of convulsive seizures should be assessed every six months.
The recommendation was based on clinical trial results that showed Fintepla, when added to standard-of-care medicines, reduced the number of convulsive seizures.
The agency also determined that Fintepla’s cost-effectiveness estimates are within the range that is considered acceptable for use of NHS resources. The UK list price of Fintepla is more than $1,100 per 60 milliliter bottle. After initial titration, patients receive an ongoing maintenance dose. The discounted price for NHS use was not disclosed.
About UCB
UCB (Union Chimique Belge) is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. UCB is an international company which focuses primarily on research and development, specifically involving medications centered on epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and Crohn's disease. The company's efforts are focused on treatments for severe diseases treated by specialists, particularly in the fields of central nervous system (CNS) disorders (including epilepsy), inflammatory disorders (including allergy), and oncology.
June 2, 2022
