12 September 2016 - Three new medicines accepted for routine use by NHS Scotland.

The SMC has today published advice accepting three new medicines for routine use in NHS Scotland.

Trametinib dimethyl sulphoxide (Mekinist) was accepted for the treatment of advanced melanoma (a skin cancer) following consideration through the Patient and Clinician Engagement Process (PACE). Trametinib dimethyl sulphoxide is used in combination with dabrafenib mesylate, in patients whose melanoma cells have a specific genetic mutation called BRAF V600. In the PACE meeting, patient groups and clinicians highlighted that melanoma commonly affects a relatively young population who may have significant work and family commitments. Trametinib dimethyl sulphoxide can offer patients increased survival time and an improved quality of life.

Idarucizumab (Praxbind) was accepted for use to neutralise the effects of another medicine, dabigatran, which is used to treat and prevent blood clots. Idarucizumab is used to reverse the anticlotting effects of dabigatran rapidly in patients who need emergency surgery or experience life-threatening bleeding. No other current treatment is licensed to reverse the effects of dabigatran.

Dasatinib monohydrate (Sprycel) was accepted for the first line treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), a rare type of blood cancer. In the majority of patients, the diagnosis of CML is made in the initial chronic phase of the disease. Dasatinib monohydrate offers another treatment option for patients at this stage of the disease and, as a once daily oral medication, offers benefits over other currently available treatment options. SMC also accepted dasatinib monohydrate for the second line treatment of CML, i.e. for use in those patients who have already received another treatment.

Read SMC press release