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18th October
2005
Society welcomes European approval for threatened drug treatments
The Alzheimer’s
Society welcomes the extension of the approval of the drug treatment
memantine (Ebixa) by the European Committee for Medicinal Products
for Human Use (CHMP) to include people in the moderate stages of
Alzheimer’s disease.
Professor Clive
Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer’s Society says,
‘We welcome
the news that the European committee has extended the approval of
Ebixa for use in the moderate stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Since the drug treatment was licensed in 2002 for moderately severe
to severe Alzheimer’s disease thousands of people have benefited
from its use. For example, people experience improvements in their
memory and ability to carry out daily tasks, such as eating a meal
unaided. We hope that this decision will mean that across Europe
more people with dementia will have access to potentially beneficial
treatment.’
‘Recent
studies have also indicated that there may be additional benefits
in combining Ebixa with cholinesterase inhibitors such as Aricept
and preliminary evidence that Ebixa may help improve behavioural
symptoms in people with dementia, so it is vital that as many people
as possible have access to this treatment.’
‘However,
it is paradoxical that as Europe looks to extend the availability
of Ebixa, the UK’s National Institute for Clinical and Health
Excellence (Nice) is recommending that the drug is not made available
to people with dementia on the NHS because of cost. If Nice’s
guidance is not reversed Britain is in danger of becoming the poor
relation of Europe for dementia care.’
The Alzheimer’s
Society is leading Action on Alzheimer’s Drugs, an alliance
of over thirty organisations campaigning to keep dementia drugs
on the NHS. Nice has recommended that the only four licensed drug
treatments for people with Alzheimer’s disease be withdrawn
because of cost.
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