The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted sanofi-aventis’s (S-A) Multaq (dronedarone) for use in Scotland. Multaq is indicated in adult clinically stable patients with a history of, or current, non-permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) to prevent recurrence of AF or lower ventricular rate. The SMC has specified the use of Multaq for the prevention of recurrence of AF in patients in whom conventional first-line anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) are ineffective, contra-indicated or not tolerated.
Despite initial concerns over efficacy and side effects Multaq is now gaining approvals across the world. The drug was given limited approval by NICE as a second-line treatment for AF in August this year and received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendation in July 2009. Additionally, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has now recommended Multaq in its new Guidelines for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation.
The SMC has also issued a positive recommendation for the use of AstraZeneca’s (AZ) proton pump inhibitor (PPI) esomeprazole 10mg gastro-resistant granules for oral solution, sachet (Nexium) for use in children aged one to 11 years old in Scotland with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD).
Nexium 10mg first received a licence for the treatment of children one to 11 years old with GORD and patients aged 12 years and older who have difficulty swallowing gastro-resistant tablets in July 2008. The newly approved sachets aim to make treatment easier to administer than the traditional tablet therapy.
The latest medicines advice issued by the SMC can be found on the SMC website: http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/smc/CCC_FirstPage.jsp