Sanofi-aventis receives NICE backing over Multaq

Sanofi-aventis has been granted a preliminary recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) over its atrial fibrillation drug Multaq.

The regulator’s appraisal committee has stated its intention to recommend the company’s drug as the first choice therapeutic option for treating the condition after beta blockers.

It comes after the treatment recently demonstrated its efficacy in the Athena clinical trial, showing its positive effect on survival rates when used in conjunction with a standard care regime.

Belen Garijo, senior vice-president of pharmaceutical operations for Sanofi-aventis in Europe, welcomed the “thorough and comprehensive” analysis provided by NICE for its product, which launches in the UK this week.

He added that the drug will provide advantages for “patients who have been awaiting a new therapeutic option that safely treats their symptoms and improves their long-term cardiovascular outcomes”.

Last week, the company received approval from the European Commission for its heart disease treatment DuoPlavin/DuoCover, which it has developed in conjunction with Bristol-Myers Squibb.