Researcher

News from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) could mean that hundreds of thousands of people with Alzheimer’s could soon have access, through the NHS, to life-changing drugs.

NICE has issued draft guidance recommending that people with any stage of Alzheimer’s disease should have access to these treatments. In a previous ruling in 2007, NICE limited access to these drugs to people in certain stages of the illness.

The drugs Aricept, Reminyl and Exelon are currently restricted to people in the moderate stages of the disease. The fourth drug, Ebixa is only prescribed in clinical trials. NICE made this ruling in 2007 on the grounds that the drugs were clinically effective but not cost effective. The drugs cost just £2.80 per person, per day. NICE has changed its decision on the cost effectiveness of these treatments following further research, which included evidence on the cost of care and the length of time the drugs can keep people out of long-term care.

The draft guidance doesn’t mean that the drugs are available straight away. Nice now has a 30-day consultation period, and has asked for comments from members of the public and the relevant organisations, before it makes a final decision. This will happen at a meeting on November 25th. When the final guidance is issued, the NHS has three months in which to act on the recommendations.

If the ruling goes ahead as it is in the draft, it will mean that Aricept, Reminyl and Exelon will be available for people with the early and moderate stages of Alzheimer’s. Ebixa will be available to people in the moderate and late stages of the disease.

Even at this early stage, this is a major step forward, and very good news for all those who have spent years campaigning for fair access to these drugs. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but these drugs can make an enormous difference to those who do benefit from them, and to the people who care for them.

“This is a momentous day for thousands of people with Alzheimer’s and their carers,” said Ruth Sutherland, Interim Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Society. “These drugs can help people have a better quality of life at all stages of the condition. While they don’t work for everyone, small but important benefits can enable many people to recognise their loved ones for longer, play with their grandchildren or make vital plans for the future. Alzheimer’s Society welcomes the draft decision and will now be campaigning for more people to have access to the treatments from today.”

There are currently 465,000 people in the UK with Alzheimer’s, and 62,000 people develop this condition every year. Only one in three people with dementia ever receive a diagnosis. The Alzheimer’s Society commented that knowing there are drugs available that could relieve the symptoms might persuade more people to seek medical help and encourage more GPs to give a diagnosis.

The society suggests that if you have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s (or care for someone who does), it may be a good idea to talk to your GP now, to find out if you would be eligible for treatment with these drugs.

“This welcome proposal gives all people living with Alzheimer’s the best possible chance of benefiting from the treatments we have available,” said Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust. “These drugs hold the promise of relief from symptoms of Alzheimer’s for thousands of people and, while not the cure we desperately need, they can still help.

“The Government’s national dementia strategy stresses the need for early diagnosis, so NICE’s proposal could provide swift and much-needed treatment for people with Alzheimer’s in its early stages.”

First published October 7, 2010.

Useful websites

Alzheimer’s Research Trust - www.alzheimers-research.org.uk

Alzheimer’s Society - www.alzheimer’s.org.uk

NICE - www.nice.org.uk