Approval has been given for use of a multiple sclerosis (MS) medication in Scotland, with a final decision on its introduction in England and Wales expected later this year.
The medication ozanimod, or Zeposia, has been given approval by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) for people with active relapsing remitting MS.
Ozanimod is a disease modifying therapy which is taken as a tablet and traps immune T-cells in the body’s lymph nodes.
In a two year clinical trial, it was shown to reduce relapses in those with active relapsing remitting MS by around 38 per cent, compared to beta interferon, an existing MS treatment.
Scotland is the first nation in the UK to approve ozanimod and its approval means there are now 15 disease modifying therapies available on the NHS in the country.
In January, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provisionally decided not to recommend the drug for use in England and Wales, although a final decision is expected in the coming months.
In NICE’s preliminary decision, it cited the uncertainty around how effective ozanimod is compared to other treatments, and cost-effectiveness estimates are uncertain because of limitations in clinical evidence.
MS charities have welcomed the decision to introduce ozanimod in Scotland, with its use in tablet form providing an option for people who find injectable therapies difficult to administer and widening existing options.
“It’s very welcome that ozanimod has been approved for use on the NHS in Scotland. MS is relentless, painful, and disabling, and this treatment increases the options for people to manage their condition and help prevent symptoms,” says Morna Simpkins, director of the MS Society in Scotland.
“Our community’s experiences tell us just how big a difference having different treatments available can make.
“We hope that appraisal bodies in other parts of the UK follow suit as soon as possible, so everyone with MS can access ozanimod if it’s the right option for them.
“We have never been closer to stopping MS, and this is just the latest in a number of new treatments which have been made available in the past few years for the 15,000 people living with MS in Scotland.”
David Martin, chief executive of the MS Trust, hailed its introduction in Scotland as “excellent news”.
“The approval of Zeposia in Scotland increases the choices for people with relapsing MS, particularly those who prefer taking a tablet,” he says.
“An expanding range of drugs that work in different ways and have different benefits and risks means more people can find the treatment that is best for them.”
