Astellas receives Welsh recommendation for Qutenza

Astellas has been granted a positive recommendation for the use of its product Qutenza for the treatment of Welsh patients with peripheral nerve pain.

The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group has endorsed the capsaicin patch as a therapy for the debilitating condition, also known as peripheral neuropathic pain, among non-diabetic adults in combination with other medicinal products.

Qutenza has been shown to offer pain relief for more than three months following a single 30-to-60-minute application and is suitable for those who have not received adequate benefit from or are intolerant to alternative conventional treatments.

Dr Arun Bhaskar, consultant in pain medicine, anaesthesia and critical care at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, said: "A single treatment with the capsaicin patch can give people suffering with peripheral neuropathic pain relief for at least 12 weeks, and gives doctors an effective and well-tolerated treatment option."

Last month, Astellas added to its corporate leadership capabilities by appointing Dr Charlotte Kremer – formerly of Pfizer – as senior vice-president of its global medical affairs division.