Fresh Hope for Sight Saving Drugs

3.02.01pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Aug 2007

After strong criticism, from local MPs amongst others, the NHS drug authorising body NICE is to think again about its refusal to sanction drugs like Macugen and Larcentis;

for a condition called 'wet-age-related macular degeneration' (AMD), unless patients have already lost their sight in one eye.

Vincent Cable has already tackled the local NHS on behalf of several residents who were refused these sight saving drugs on cost grounds. He now says "there is hope now of a more sensible and humane response. The NICE guidance which caused such outrage has been withdrawn and now, more sympathetic guidance comes in this autumn. Experience in Scotland as well as much of Europe rand Australia shows that these drugs can sensibly be introduced at reasonable cost and save sight. It is right that these decisions be made independently on scientific and economic grounds but NICE have made a mess of this one and the sooner it is reversed the better."