NICE now recommends Nucala (mepolizumab)as a treatment for severe asthma.-GSK

In draft guidance ,The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states that adults with severe symptoms may have access to Nucala (mepolizumab) from GSK. This includes adults who suffer many asthma attacks or those taking regular oral steroids. Nucala is the first biologic treatment to target specific white blood cells called eosinophils, which are responsible for symptoms in thousands of asthma patients. Given by injection every four weeks, the drug offers an extra option for patients with the most severe symptoms, including those who suffer multiple asthma attacks.

NICE initially did not recommend Nucala but as GSK has provided more information and reduced the price of the drug it has been accepted by NICE as cost effective. NICE have set out guidelines for the use of Nucala. It is recommended as an add-on treatment when people have a certain level of eosinophils in their blood despite taking their regular medicines, and only recommended if the patients has had 4 or more attacks in the previous 12 months, or if they are taking maintenance oral corticosteroids. The treatment should be reviewed annually, and if the patient’s asthma is not benefiting from treatment, treatment should be stopped.