The Scottish Medicines Consortium has presented its latest recommendations which reveal backing for drugs including Sanofi unit Genzyme’s multiple sclerosis treatment Lemtrada and a subcutaneous formulation of Roche’s MabThera but a rejection for Celgene’s multiple myeloma drug Imnovid.

First up, the cost regulator has endorsed Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) for unrestricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of adults with relapsing-remitting MS. The latter accounts for 85% of all initial diagnoses of the disease which affects over 10,000 people in Scotland.

Brendan Martin, general manager for Genzyme UK and Ireland, noted that the decision brings a treatment option to people with MS developed in Cambridge UK “that could really reshape the management of their condition”. Lemtrada is the second of Genzyme’s treatments for MS to receive approval for use from the SMC, following a thumbs-up in March for its oral treatment Aubagio (teriflunomide).

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