NHS covering Alexion's Soliris until NICE decision

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ALXN) said NHS England will cover Soliris eculizumab to treat atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) pending a decision from NICE, which is expected in spring 2014. In April, NICE took over responsibility for assessing high-cost drugs for rare conditions from the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services (AGNSS). Soliris is the first to be assessed by NICE under the agency's Highly Specialized Technologies Program. The humanized mAb targeting complement 5 (C5) is approved in the EU and U.S. for aHUS, and in over 40 countries, including the EU, to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Both are rare, genetic blood disorders. NHS has covered Soliris for PNH since 2009. ...