Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) accepts Iluvien intravitreal implant for prevention of relapse in recurrent non-infectious uveitis. -Alimera Sciences

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted Iluvien (190µg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) intravitreal implant in applicator) from Alimera Sciences, for use within NHS Scotland for prevention of relapse in recurrent non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye (NIU-PS) in adults. NIU-PS is a sight threatening, inflammatory condition chiefly affecting people during prime working years. The treatment of NIU-PS can present substantial challenges, and the unpredictability of uveitis recurrence can make it difficult for patients to plan any aspect of their lives. The SMC’s decision means there is now a treatment option available to patients in Scotland which greatly increases the time patients are free from the recurrence of uveitis (median 657 days recurrence-free for eyes treated with ILuvien compared with 70.5 days for eyes given treated control).4 Study data also shows that ILuvien prevents recurrence for up to 6 months in more than two thirds (72.4%) of eyes and for up to 3 years in a third (34.5%) of eyes. Additionally, patients treated with ILuvien required fewer adjunctive treatments (57.5%) compared to (97.6%) those receiving treated control. ILuvien delivers a continuous, sustained release of steroid at sub-microgram doses to the retina each day for up to 3 years, reducing ocular inflammation and minimising the side effects associated with systemic steroids, whilst also lowering the need for the repeated injections required with local treatments. Following release of the SMC public notification, ILuvien will become funded and available immediately through the NHS to Scottish patients with recurrent NIU-PS. 36-month data from the PSV-FAI-001 study showed that significantly more eyes treated with Iluvien experienced no recurrence of uveitis over three years compared to those in the treated control group (34.5% of eyes treated with Iluvien versus 2.4% treated control.