Boston Scientific welcomes NICE support for Alair system

Boston Scientific has welcomed a new report from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) supporting the safety and efficacy of its Alair bronchial thermoplasty system.

The regulatory body has published new guidance that endorses the use of bronchial thermoplasty in the treatment of adult patients with severe asthma which has not been adequately controlled using medication.

According to NICE's interventional procedures advisory committee, the use of devices such as Alair can deliver improvement in symptoms and quality of life, as well as a reduction in exacerbations and hospital admission rates.

Tim Coutts, vice-president and general manager for Boston Scientific in the UK, said this represents a strong endorsement of the benefits of its device, which has been available in Britain since June 2011.

"The Alair System has been well received in the UK and other countries where it has gained increased acceptance among physicians and patients," he added.

Earlier this month, the company published positive clinical data from the US to support the efficacy of its Epic self-expanding nitinol stent system among iliac artery disease patients.