NICE welcomes referral of new work programme topics

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence ( NICE ) today welcomed the referral of additional topics for its forward work programme. Topics referred by the Secretary of State for Health to NICE include eight further public health topics in line with the Institute’s widened remit to include developing guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.  

In addition, eleven technology appraisal topics have been referred, and the remits for two of the nine clinical guidelines topics referred in November 2005 have been amended.  

Public health topics referred to NICE are: strategies for reducing the harm from smoking; sensible drinking information for schools; workplace health promotion; promotion of mental health; strategies for reducing health inequalities in the short, medium and longer terms; promotion of physical activity in children; health promotion in schools and colleges of further education; management of long term sickness and incapacity.

Technology appraisal topics referred to NICE are:  idaraparinux sodium for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation; idaraparinux sodium for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism; varenicline for smoking cessation; alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke; drugs for refractory rheumatoid arthritis; adalimumab and leflunomide for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis; ruboxistaurin for the treatment of diabetic eye disease; treatment of sleep apnoea; neuro-imaging in identification of first episode psychosis; cochlear implants; and drugs for Crohn's disease.

Clinical guideline topics have been confirmed as: diagnosis and management of metastatic spinal cord compression; and diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome.

Commenting on the referrals, Andrew Dillon , NICE Chief Executive said: “We welcome the referral of new topics across our work programmes, including the range of public health topics.  We will begin work on all the topics as soon as possible and we will make detailed timetables available on our website shortly.”

The Department of Health has also announced today that a second batch of existing topics will move to the faster single technology appraisal process.  These topics are: erlotinib (Tarceva) for non small cell lung cancer; irinotecan (Campto) for adjuvant advanced colorectal cancer (subject to licensing); pemetrexed (Alimta) for non small cell lung cancer; cetuximab (Erbitux) for locally advanced recurrent metastatic head and neck cancer (subject to licensing); atrasentan (Xinlay) for hormone refractory prostate cancer (subject to licensing); omalizumab (Xolair) for asthma; ximelagatran (Exanta) for atrial fibrillation; lerdelimumab (CAT-152) for glaucoma; carmustine implants (Gliadel Wafers) for glioma (recurrent); nesiritide (Natrecor) for acute heart failure; natalizumab (Tysabri) for multiple sclerosis; infliximab (Remicade) for psoriatic arthritis.

Further information: Louise Fish at louise.fish@nice.org.uk or on 020 7067 5902.

Notes

1.      Full details of the process that is followed by the Department of Health when selecting topics for NICE can be found on the Department of Health's website at: http://www.dh.gov.uk.

2.       The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.  

3.       NICE produces guidance in three areas of health.

·         Public health – guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention of ill health for those working in the NHS, local authorities and the wider public and voluntary sector.

·         Health technologies – guidance on the use of new and existing medicines, treatments and procedures within the NHS.

·         Clinical practice – guidance on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions within the NHS

4.       The technology appraisal topics referred to NICE are:

       SINGLE TECHNOLOGY APPRAISALS

·         Idaraparinux sodium for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation: To appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness of idraparinux sodium for the prevention of stroke in patients with established non-reversible atrial fibrillation.

·         Idaraparinux sodium for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism: To appraise the clinical and cost-effectiveness of idraparinux sodium for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism.

·         Rituximab and abatacept for the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis:To appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness of abatacept for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; and to appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness of rituximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

·         Adalimumab and leflunomide for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis: To appraise the clinical and cost-effectiveness of adalimumab in its licensed indications for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis; and to appraise the clinical and cost-effectiveness of leflunomide within its licensed indications for psoriatic arthritis.

·         Alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke: To appraise the clinical and cost-effectiveness of alteplase for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke.

·         Varenicline for smoking cessation: To appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness of varenicline for smoking cessation.

·         Ruboxistaurin (LY333531) for diabetic eye disease: To appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness of ruboxistaurin for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

MULTIPLE TECHNOLOGY APPRAISALS

·         Neuro-imaging in the first onset atypical psychosis: To appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness of structural neuro-imaging (MRI and CT) to identify organic causes of first episode psychosis.

·         Cochlear Implants: To appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness of cochlear implants in severe to profound deafness in children and adults

·         Continuous positive airways pressure for sleep apnoea: To appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness of continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypoapnoea syndrome.

·         Certolizumab pegol and natalizumab for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's disease: To appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness of the use of certolizumab pegol and natalizumab within their licensed indications for Crohn’s disease.

EXISTING TOPICS MOVING TO THE SINGLE TECHNOLOGY APPRAISAL PROCESS

·         Erlotinib (Tarceva) for non small cell lung cancer

·         Irinotecan (Campto) for adjuvant advanced colorectal cancer (subject to licensing)

·         Pemetrexed (Alimta) for non small cell lung cancer

·         Cetuximab (Erbitux) for locally advanced recurrent metastatic head and neck cancer (subject to licensing)

·         Atrasentan (Xinlay) for hormone refractory prostate cancer (subject to licensing)

·         Omalizumab (Xolair) for asthma

·         Ximelagatran (Exanta) for atrial fibrillation

·         Lerdelimumab (CAT-152) for glaucoma

·         Carmustine implants (Gliadel Wafers) for glioma (recurrent)

·         Nesiritide (Natrecor) for acute heart failure

·         Natalizumab (Tysabri) for multiple sclerosis

·         Infliximab (Remicade) for psoriatic arthritis

5.       The public health topics that have been referred to NICE are:

INTERVENTION GUIDANCE

·         Strategies for reducing the harm from smoking: To produce guidance on the prevention of the uptake of smoking in children and young people, including point of sale measures.

·         Sensible drinking: To produce guidance for use in primary and secondary schools on sensible alcohol consumption.

·         Workplace health promotion: To produce intervention guidance on workplace health promotion with reference to physical activity, and what works in motivating and changing employees’ health behaviour; and to produce intervention guidance on workplace health promotion with reference to smoking, and what works in motivating and changing employees’ health behaviour.

·         Promotion of mental health: To produce guidance for schools on the promotion of good mental health in children; to produce guidance for workplaces on the promotion of good mental health in employees; and to produce guidance for primary care and for residential care institutions on the promotion of good mental health in older people.

·         Strategies for reducing health inequalities in the short, medium and longer terms: To produce guidance for the NHS and other sectors on what works in driving down population mortality rates in disadvantaged areas where risk of early death is higher than average, with particular reference to proactive case finding and retention, and access to services.

PROGRAMME GUIDANCE

·         Promotion of physical activity in children: To produce guidance on physical activity, play and sport for pre-school and school age children, in family, pre-school, school and community settings.

·         Health promotion in schools and colleges of further education: To produce guidance on school, college and community based personal, social and health education, including health literacy, with particular reference to sexual health behaviour and alcohol.

·         Management of long term sickness and incapacity: To produce guidance for primary care and employers on the management of long term sickness and incapacity.

6.       The clinical guideline topics that were referred to NICE in November 2005 and have amended remits are:

·         To prepare a clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of patients with metastatic spinal cord compression, including service delivery where appropriate.

·         To develop a guideline on the diagnosis and management within primary care of adults with irritable bowel syndrome – including criteria for referral to secondary care.

The following clinical guideline topics were also referred to NICE in November 2005:  low back pain; stroke; glaucoma; investigation of children with suspected abuse; chronic kidney disease; clinical management of borderline personality disorder; clinical management of antisocial (dissocial) personality disorder.

  (31/8/06)