Servier satisfied with ruling against NICE

Servier is satisfied with a court ruling instructing the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to re-evaluate its guidance for the prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women.

The pharmaceutical company filed a complaint against the body because it thought the guidelines restricted the use of its drug Protelos for many patients who could benefit from it.

NICE has now been instructed to grant access to the economic model to stakeholders, who will be given the opportunity to comment on the previously unknown assumptions.

In addition, the organisation will be legally required under the duty of transparency to re-evaluate the guidance in light of the comments it receives.

Michael Sumpter, chief executive officer of Servier, remarked the lack of transparency shown by NICE with regards to the matter was “unfair” and “potentially compromised patient care”.

He commented: “We will work with NICE to ensure that the osteoporosis guidance is now updated as quickly as possible to enable all patients to have access to the most appropriate treatments, including Protelos.”

Founded in 1963, Servier’s portfolio of products includes Coversyl Arginine (perindopril) and Coversyl Arginine Plus (perindopril and indapamide).