A drug to treat a potentially fatal brain condition caused by liver failure will be funded by the NHS following new recommendations by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). 

NICE has published final guidance recommending the drug rifaximin (also called Targaxan and manufactured by Norgine) as a treatment option for preventing recurrent episodes of overt hepatic encephalopathy in adults. This is when people become confused, lose consciousness or, in more serious cases, fall into a coma due to problems with their liver.

Hepatic encephalopathy, which is estimated to affect around 12,000 people in England, is thought to be caused by a build-up of toxic substances in the body that are normally removed by the liver. It is most commonly seen in people with cirrhosis of the liver.

Professor Carole Longson, Director of the NICE Centre for Health Technology Evaluation, said:  “We are very pleased to recommend rifaximin for hepatic encephalopathy. This brain disease can have far-reaching effects on people and their families and carers. It can be serious, even fatal, and those with the condition may have to go into hospital regularly.

“Studies show that rifaximin can prevent these life-threatening episodes, is generally better tolerated than other treatments and can improve a patient’s quality of life.”

Following the positive NICE recommendation, the NHS now has a legal obligation to begin providing the treatment to eligible patients within the next 3 months.

For more details, go to: https://www.nice.org.uk/news/press-and-media/nice-recommends-treatment-for-brain-condition-hepatic-encephalopathy