NICE Rejects Janssen’s Spravato for Second Time

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended against Janssen’s Spravato (esketamine) in combination with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) for treatment-resistant depression.

NICE said it was unclear how effective Spravato is with an SSRI or SNRI because of the way the trials were done. The institute also flagged uncertainties about the cost of repeated courses of treatment with Spravato, the costs of setting up treatment clinics and whether improvements in symptoms continue after treatment.

NICE previously recommended against the drug in February due to uncertainties about its clinical and cost effectiveness.