Asthma UK Comment on Final NICE Determination on Xolair

Dr Mike Thomas, Chief Medical Adviser to Asthma UK, said: ‘Hundreds of children across England with the most severe, allergic asthma will now be denied a pioneering treatment that could free them from crippling daily asthma symptoms, endless trips to hospital and huge amounts of time off school.

‘As the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has already approved omalizumab (Xolair) for use in children aged 6-11 in Scotland, patients will once again be faced with a treatment postcode lottery depending on where they live in the UK.

‘For parents of children with severe asthma aged 6-11 who have already trialled Xolair and had their lives transformed, this news will come as a massive blow. It’s vital that these children do not have the treatment withdrawn by PCTs as a result of the NICE decision, as this would be completely unjust.

‘We will continue to fight for Xolair to be made available to people of all ages with severe asthma throughout the UK.’

Press release written and supplied by health4media.com

Last Reviewed: 29 March 2011
Next Review Date: 7 October 2012