Allergan receives NICE backing for Ozurdex

Allergan has been granted a provisional recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for its drug Ozurdex (dexamethasone) to be utilised as a treatment for a common eye condition.

The healthcare regulator has backed the drug for use among patients with macular oedema following central retinal vein occlusion, as well as after branch retinal vein occlusion in cases where laser photocoagulation has proven unsuitable.

NICE's draft guidance has requested that Allergan provides further clinical data to demonstrate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the drug compared to alternatives.

Final guidance on the treatment is expected to be published in July 2011.

Professor Peter Littlejohns, clinical and public health director at NICE, said: "After receiving the information requested from the manufacturer following the consultation, we are pleased to be able to recommend dexamethasone intravitreal implant for this condition."

Last month, Allergan agreed a new licensing arrangement with Molecular Partners to develop and commercialise MP0112, a promising new treatment for conditions such as diabetic macular oedema and wet age-related macular degeneration.