Multiple Sclerosis :: Tysabri treatment to Scots with multiple sclerosis (MS)

The MS Trust is dismayed by the SMC decision to deny this treatment to around 1,000 Scots living with rapidly deteriorating MS, by banning the drug Tysabri (natalizumab).

The Chief Executive of the MS Trust, Chris Jones comments: “We share the sadness of Scots with MS at this decision, particularly those for whom Tysabri offered their only chance of holding back this cruel disease. Clinicians will be prevented from prescribing an effective licensed treatment to people in need. We urge people with MS to continue fighting for Tysabri on an individual basis.”

SMC decisions are based on cost-effectiveness, using the cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY). The QALY is a health economic formula which tries to determine the value of a treatment to a person’s life, not the actual cost of providing the drug. The cut-off point used by the SMC is not clear, although it has been estimated between ?20-30,000 per QALY.

Chris Jones comments: “Accountancy has trumped clinical evidence with this decision. For a well defined group of people with MS, where the disease is running out-of-control, this drug is highly effective, leading to 60-70% reductions in relapses. Only an economist could make that sound expensive.

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