NICE issues draft guidance on treatment for diabetic macular oedema
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance recommending Lucentis as a treatment option for visual impairment caused by diabetic macular oedema (DMO).
It recommends Lucentis as an option for treating DMO among people with central retinal thickness greater than 400 micrometres.
People currently receiving Lucentis whose disease does not meet these criteria should be able to continue therapy until they and their clinician consider it appropriate to stop.
The guidance has been welcomed by the RNIB. Steve Winyard (pictured), head of policy and campaigns at RNIB, said: "We are pleased that NICE has recommended Lucentis for use in treating some patients with DMO as this is something RNIB, along with a number of other charities, has been calling for since last year's initial decision not to make the treatment available.
"This new recommendation by NICE may help to reduce the amount of avoidable sight loss from DMO, which is set to increase as the number of people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise."
NICE has issued the guidance after a rapid review of the original guidance, published in November 2011, following submission of a revised patient access scheme by the manufacturer. The manufacturer also included updated analyses showing the drug's superior relative effect among a sub group of people with DMO.
