Sucampo’s constipation treatment Amitiza (lubiprostone) should be available on the NHS, according to new healthcare guidance.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued a final appraisal, which gave the green light to the drug for use in the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and associated symptoms in adults who have failed laxatives.
Amitiza has been available in the UK since December last, but the NICE guidance means it now part of NHS prescribing guidance for people with chronic constipation that has not been caused by another disease or by another medicine.
Specifically, the drug can be used after patients have failed at least two previous laxatives at maximum tolerated doses for a period of six months, and for whom invasive procedures are being considered.
“We are pleased by the NICE recommendation as this will make Amitiza more widely accessible to patients in the UK who may benefit from it, thus continuing our mission of meeting unmet patient needs on a global basis,” said Peter Greenleaf, CEO of Sucampo.
Dr Ramesh Arasaradnam, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and University of Warwick, explained the impact of the drug on people with constipation unable to manage their condition with laxatives.
“For many of the patients who are refractory to standard laxatives, effectively treating with lubiprostone in primary care could negate the need to progress to a secondary or tertiary care referral,” he said.