NICE issues draft guidance for public consultation on Siponimod  

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance for public consultation which does not recommend siponimod to treat secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).

NICE has acknowledged that there are very limited treatment options for secondary progressive MS, and that clinical trials have shown that siponimod can slow the worsening of disability.

However, it's committee that makes such decisions has concluded that it is unable to recommend siponimod as a cost-effective treatment for the NHS without more detailed evidence and analysis of the data.

“The committee has requested further analyses to be included in the company’s economic model. These include comparing siponimod with best supportive care and assuming that there is a reduction in its treatment effect over time,” NICE has said.

Meindert Boysen, a director at NICE, said: “We know there are currently few, if any treatments available for people with this form of MS, and that siponimod is a promising drug that has the potential to address this unmet clinical need.

"We are, therefore, committed to working with the company to help them address the issues identified by the committee that are highlighted in this draft guidance.”

NICE's draft guidance is now open to public consultation until July 17.

Siponimod, also called Mayzent and manufactured by Novartis, is licensed to treat this type of MS in adults with evidence of active disease, which means they have relapses or features of inflammatory activity that show up on an MRI scan.

“Siponimod costs £1,643.72 per pack of 28 tablets at its list price. The company has agreed a confidential commercial arrangement which would have made siponimod available at a discounted price,” NICE added.