Merck Sharp and Dohme receives draft NICE recommendation for Ezetrol

Merck Sharp and Dohme's hypercholesterolaemia therapy Ezetrol has been recommended in new draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The provisional recommendations have endorsed Ezetrol as an option for adults with primary heterozygous-familial and nonfamilial hypercholesterolaemia when a statin is considered inappropriate or is not tolerated.

If finalised, this would replace the existing 2007 guidance and reflects the fact that current clinical practice has a greater emphasis on managing cardiovascular risks rather than meeting target cholesterol levels.

Consultees, including Merck Sharp and Dohme, healthcare professionals and members of the public, have until November 10th to comment on the preliminary guidance.

Professor Carole Longson, director of the centre for health technology evaluation at NICE, said: "Primary hypercholesterolaemia is an important risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, the most common cause of death in the UK, as well as being a major cause of morbidity and reduced quality of life."

The drug was originally launched in the UK in 2003. If approved by NICE, it would become available through the NHS.