Report shows potential of E-health to increase vaccination. Twenty one EU/EEA countries have developed or are developing systems to digitally record information about vaccination, according to a new “ECDC survey report on immunisation information systems implementation and system characteristics”. 14 of these countries already have a system in place, whereas innovative systems are being piloted…
Ixekizumab for treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
Today NICE, England published final draft guidance recommending Ixekizumab for treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The draft guidance can be found here Ixekizumab is recommended as an option for treating plaque psoriasis in adults, only if: the disease is severe, as defined by a total Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) of 10 or…
Tests to identify gastrointestinal pathogens
Final guidance: tests identifying gastrointestinal pathogens Tests for people with suspected gastroenteritis Part of NICE’s diagnostics assessment programme, it does not recommend multiplex polymerase chain reaction tests (xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel – Luminex; FilmArray Gastrointestinal Panel – BioFire Diagnostics; Faecal Pathogens B assay – AusDiagnostics) for routine use in the NHS in England. The tests…
Many to benefit from £2-a-day anti-clotting drug
Many to benefit from £2-a-day anti-clotting drug preventing heart attacks and strokes The draft guidance for ticagrelor for reducing the risk of cardiovascular events in people who have had a heart attack NICE has published draft guidance recommending anti-clotting drug ticagrelor 60 mg (Brilique, Astrazeneca) with aspirin for people who have had a heart attack.…
Recommendation of secukinumab for patients with ankylosing spondylitis In draft guidance NICE,England and Wales,recommends innovative new drug secukinumab (Cosentyx, Novartis) for treating ankylosing spondylitis. Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that mainly affects the back. Secukinumab was licensed for use in UK in May, is first in a new class of drug to treat…
Improved breast cancer treatments
Breast cancer improvement – an updated quality standard England and Wales People diagnosed with a type of early breast cancer and at risk of the cancer spreading should be offered an Oncotype DX test. This test provides information about genetic makeup of the tumour to help predict its development. This information can be used to…
In UK three diabetes treatments recommended
Three diabetes treatments recommended Three drugs can all be used on their own if a patient can’t use metformin or other specific drugs and diet and exercise alone isn’t controlling their blood glucose levels. About 3 million people in the UK have type 2 diabetes. Some 31,000 people may be eligible for the three recommended…
Jaundice in newborn babies (neonates) guideline
Updated Guideline – England and Wales Guideline covers diagnosing and treating jaundice, caused by increased levels of bilirubin in the blood, in newborn babies (neonates). It aims to help detect or prevent high levels of bilirubin, which can be harmful if not treated .…more
New tests for pregnancy complication to avoid hospital admission
NHS England and Wales: Nice recommendations on new tests to rule out pregnancy complication and avoid unnecessary hospital admission. In a final guidance, a recommendation for 2 blood tests to help rule-out pre-eclampsia, a potentially life threatening complication affecting as many as one in 16 pregnant women1.NICE recommends the Triage PlGF test (Alere) and the…
Treatment recommendation: advanced skin cancer
Treatment recommendation for advanced skin cancer Advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma. 18 Feb 2016 NICE final guidance recommending nivolumab as monotherapy for treating advanced skin cancer. Nivolumab called Opdivo, and manufactured by Bristol Myers Squibb is to be made available on the NHS as a treatment option for patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic melanoma.…