NICE backs Jetrea for some with vitreomacular traction

The U.K.'s NICE issued draft guidance recommending the use of Jetrea ocriplasmin from ThromboGenics N.V. (Euronext:THR) to treat vitreomacular traction (VMT) only in a subset of patients without an epiretinal membrane and who have severe symptoms. The committee concluded the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of Jetrea was "likely" to be no greater than £21,000 ($32,607) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) for patients without an epiretinal membrane, which is a thin sheet of fibrous tissue that can develop on the macular area of the retina. NICE determined the ICER of Jetrea in patients with an epiretinal membrane would be £64,331-£67,666 ($99,887-$105,065) per QALY. The European Commission approved Jetrea in March to treat vitreomacular traction, including when associated with a macular hole of 400 µm or less in diameter. Comments are due July 3, with final guidance expected in October. ThromboGenics was off EUR 0.96 to EUR 30.60 on Tuesday. ...