NICE Approves Three MS Drugs After Price Reductions

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended three multiple sclerosis treatments — Avonex, Copaxone and Rebif — for approval after the medications experienced price cuts.

Teva’s Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), Biogen’s Avonex and Merck Serono’s Rebif (interferon beta-1a) are now seen as cost-effective options for treating relapsing-remitting MS, NICE said in a draft guidance. Previously, it had only recommended Novartis’ Extavia (interferon beta-1b) as a cost-effective treatment for RRMS.

NICE did not recommend Betaferon — a type of interferon beta-1b produced by Bayer — as a treatment option, citing its lack of cost-effectiveness.