NICE issues guidance for five drugs
The U.K.'s NICE issued final guidance for five drugs that is in line with previously issued final appraisal determinations, including a recommendation for Prolia denosumab from Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN). Prolia is recommended for the primary and secondary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures only in postmenopausal women at increased risk of fractures for whom oral bisphosphonates are unsuitable. Amgen was down $0.23 to $56.74 on Wednesday.
NICE recommended against the use of Arzerra ofatumumab to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) refractory to fludarabine and alemtuzumab; Xolair omalizumab to treat severe persistent asthma in children aged 6 to 11 years; and the use of Revolade eltrombopag in its approved indication for chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) markets Xolair. GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK; NYSE:GSK) has rights to Arzerra from Genmab A/S (CSE:GEN) and rights to Revolade from Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:LGND). Genmab was down DKK0.20 to DKK70.65 on Wednesday. Ligand slipped $0.05 to $1.63. ...