NICE rebuffs Novartis' Gilenya

The U.K.'s NICE issued draft guidance recommending against Gilenya fingolimod from Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The committee said it could not determine how much Gilenya reduces the rate of relapses compared with available treatments because Novartis only submitted data comparing Gilenya with placebo and Avonex interferon beta-1a, which the agency said is not widely prescribed in the U.K.'s National Health Service. NICE added that Novartis should have submitted a comparison of Gilenya with other beta interferons for people with highly active RRMS, and a comparison of Gilenya with Tysabri natalizumab for a subgroup of patients with rapidly evolving severe RRMS. ...