NICE Requests More Data On Aripiprazole For Schizophrenia

Main Category: Schizophrenia
Also Included In: Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals
Article Date: 10 Sep 2010 - 6:00 PDT


In draft guidance , published today (10 September 2010), NICE has asked Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals to provide more data on the effectiveness of their product, aripiprazole (Abilify), as a treatment for schizophrenia in people aged 15 to 17 years.

This draft guidance has been issued for consultation and the manufacturer now has an opportunity to respond to the independent Appraisal Committee's considerations and requests.

NICE has requested further evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of aripiprazole for the treatment of schizophrenia in people aged 15 to 17 years compared with each of the atypical antipsychotics routinely used in UK clinical practice (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, amisulpride and clozapine [as rescue therapy]).

Dr Carole Longson, Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director at NICE said: "The independent Appraisal Committee could not assess whether aripiprazole is a cost-effective treatment option because it did not have sufficient information to do so. The next step in the NICE process is for the manufacturer to consider the Committee's comments and respond to its request for further evidence."

NICE's preliminary recommendations are available for public consultation from 10 September 2010 until 1 October 2010 here. Comments received during this consultation will be considered by the Committee at their next meeting and following this the updated draft or final guidance may be issued. Until NICE issues final guidance, NHS bodies should make decisions locally on the funding of specific treatments.

About the guidance

1. View the Schizophrenia - aripiprazole guidance for further information.

Source:
NICE

• Additional
• References
• Citations