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| NHS will not pay for 'life-changing' migraine drug | NHS will not pay for 'life-changing' migraine drug |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A migraine drug that has been described as "life changing" by some patients will not be made available on the NHS outside of Scotland. | |
| Erenumab - also known by the name Aimovig - is one of the first bespoke migraine drugs in decades and has been described by doctors as a "huge deal". | Erenumab - also known by the name Aimovig - is one of the first bespoke migraine drugs in decades and has been described by doctors as a "huge deal". |
| But the body that approves new drugs said there were doubts whether it was good enough or worth the money. | But the body that approves new drugs said there were doubts whether it was good enough or worth the money. |
| Charities said it seemed to be a "very bad day" for migraine suffers. | Charities said it seemed to be a "very bad day" for migraine suffers. |
| Current drugs to prevent migraine are former epilepsy or heart failure medicines or the anti-wrinkle drug Botox. | Current drugs to prevent migraine are former epilepsy or heart failure medicines or the anti-wrinkle drug Botox. |
| However, some patients have migraines that do not respond to any available treatments. | However, some patients have migraines that do not respond to any available treatments. |
| What makes Erenumab different is it is specifically designed for preventing migraine. | What makes Erenumab different is it is specifically designed for preventing migraine. |
| It uses antibodies to alter the activity of chemicals in the brain that are involved in both pain and sensitivity to sound and light that comes with migraine. | It uses antibodies to alter the activity of chemicals in the brain that are involved in both pain and sensitivity to sound and light that comes with migraine. |
| Trials showed erenumab more than halved the number of migraines each month for around a third of hard-to-treat patients. | Trials showed erenumab more than halved the number of migraines each month for around a third of hard-to-treat patients. |
| The Scottish Medicines Consortium approved the drug for use in patients with chronic migraine when other treatments had failed. | The Scottish Medicines Consortium approved the drug for use in patients with chronic migraine when other treatments had failed. |
| But the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) - which evaluates drugs for England, but Wales and Northern Ireland tend to follow suit - has rejected the drug. | But the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) - which evaluates drugs for England, but Wales and Northern Ireland tend to follow suit - has rejected the drug. |
| Migraine facts | Migraine facts |
| NICE's final decision, published on its website, said there was "substantial uncertainty in the evidence for the clinical and cost effectiveness of erenumab". | NICE's final decision, published on its website, said there was "substantial uncertainty in the evidence for the clinical and cost effectiveness of erenumab". |
| The price the drug company Novartis is charging the NHS is confidential, but the company insists the cost "reflects the clinical value" erenumab brings to patients. | The price the drug company Novartis is charging the NHS is confidential, but the company insists the cost "reflects the clinical value" erenumab brings to patients. |
| The British Association for the Study of Headache Council said it was difficult to understand why the treatment was approved in Scotland, but not the rest of the UK. | The British Association for the Study of Headache Council said it was difficult to understand why the treatment was approved in Scotland, but not the rest of the UK. |
| Its chairman, Dr Mark Weatherall, said: "This drug is not a panacea, but it is an important advance in the scientific treatment of migraine, which effects huge improvements in the lives of many of those who take it. | Its chairman, Dr Mark Weatherall, said: "This drug is not a panacea, but it is an important advance in the scientific treatment of migraine, which effects huge improvements in the lives of many of those who take it. |
| "It is completely unacceptable that patients in England and Wales who suffer with such a debilitating neurological disorder should be denied access to effective treatment." | "It is completely unacceptable that patients in England and Wales who suffer with such a debilitating neurological disorder should be denied access to effective treatment." |
| Gus Baldwin, the chief executive of The Migraine Trust, said: "This still feels like a very bad day for chronic migraine patients." | Gus Baldwin, the chief executive of The Migraine Trust, said: "This still feels like a very bad day for chronic migraine patients." |
| Follow James on Twitter. | Follow James on Twitter. |