Eisai appeals to ombudsman over “disgraceful” NICE ruling

Eisai has asked the Parliamentary Ombudsman to force NICE to publish its cost effectiveness calculations after it ruled that acetylcholinesterase inhibitors like Eisai’s Aricept should not be prescribed on the NHS for the treatment of newly-diagnosed, mild Alzheimer’s disease.

The Japanese company’s UK subsidiary appealed to the Information Commissioner to force NICE to reveal the cost effectiveness calculations that it used to make its Alzheimer’s disease guidance.

However, Eisai has gone to the Parliamentary Ombudsman after claiming that the Information Commissioner failed to act in an “effective way”.

Eisai UK’s managing director, Dr Paul Hooper, stated: “It is disgraceful that NICE are using economic models which they refuse to make available for scrutiny by others.”

“NICE’s failure to disclose this model goes against their own guidelines and the principles of natural justice,” he added.

The company dismissed NICE’s claims that the formulas used for its calculations were confidential because they were provided to the institute by a third party in confidence.

Greg Hands, the member of parliament for Hammersmith and Fulham, where Eisai UK is based, has supported the company and commented: “I think it is unreasonable that Eisai has tried for 18 months to gain access to this model.”

“This appraisal has been controversial and it is clearly in the public interest that this model is disclosed before a final determination is made,” he concluded.

The NICE decision also brought condemnation from Shire and Pfizer, who make drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the Alzheimer’s Society.

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