11 September 2017 - SMC accepts four new medicines for use by NHSScotland

The SMC has today published advice accepting four new medicines for use by NHSScotland.

Stiripentol (Diacomit) was accepted for the treatment of children with a very rare type of epilepsy known as Dravet’s syndrome.

Nivolumab (Opdivo) was also accepted through the PACE process for the treatment of squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN), which includes cancers of the mouth and throat. PACE participants spoke of how patients have a limited life expectancy after treatment with a platinum-based cancer medicine and how they have to live with pain, breathing difficulties, an inability to speak and swallow and disfigurement to the face and neck. Nivolumab can improve overall survival and help patients maintain quality of life during their remaining months.

Baricitinib (Olumiant) was accepted for the treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis in adults who have not responded to or are intolerant of other current treatments. As an oral treatment, baricitinib offers an effective treatment to other medicines which are given by injection or infusion.

Also accepted was rolapitant (Varuby) for the prevention of delayed nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in adults. This provides an alternative to similar preventative treatments.

Read SMC press release