11 December 2017 - SMC accepts three new medicines for use by NHSScotland

Eliglustat (Cerdelga) was accepted for the treatment of Gaucher disease. This is a rare inherited disorder which is debilitating and if untreated it has a significant impact on quality of life due to a range of symptoms including excessive fatigue, spontaneous bleeding and bone pain. Through SMC’s Patient and Clinician Engagement (PACE) process for medicines used to treat very rare and end of life conditions, it was highlighted that current treatment involves patients or their carers administering fortnightly enzyme replacement therapy via intravenous infusion at home, which is both time consuming and stressful. Eliglustat provides a well-tolerated alternative daily oral treatment which may improve symptom control and quality of life for patients and carers.

Also accepted through PACE was palbociclib (Ibrance) for advanced breast cancer. Participants at the PACE meeting spoke of the limited treatment options and the impact of their condition on their family. Palbociclib can increase the time patients have until the condition progresses and as an oral treatment it is easier to administer.

Also accepted was aviptadil/phenotolamine (Invicorp) for erectile dysfunction.

Read SMC press release