Formulary News (October 2011)
Please Note: All these changes to Formulary are reflected in the Formulary database
ADDITIONS TO FORMULARY
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee (ADTC) met on October 10th and added the following medicines/indications/ formulations to the GGC Formulary. Additions are to the Total Formulary unless specified otherwise.
Please note some of the indications have been summarised for brevity but complete details can be found by following the links to the SMC advice.
Denosumab (Prolia®) for treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Restricted to specialist use in those patients for whom oral bisphosphonates are unsuitable, contraindicated or not tolerated in accordance with local protocol.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Tapentadol (Palexia® SR), a new medicine for the management of severe chronic pain in adults is restricted to initiation by, or on the advice of pain specialists only in patients who have failed to respond or tolerate both morphine and oxycodone
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Golimumab (Simponi®) for the treatment of severe active ankylosing spondylitis in adults was added to the Total Formulary restricted to specialist use in accordance with the British Society of Rheumatology guidelines. Use of the 100mg dose has not been accepted by SMC and remains non-Formulary.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Cetuximab (Erbutux®) for treatment patients with EGFR-expressing KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with chemotherapy is restricted to specialist use in accordance with regional protocol.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Adrenaline pre-filled syringe (Jext®) for the emergency treatment of severe acute allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) is a new presentation in the Preferred List. Jext® is the preferred brand of adrenaline injection for self-administration.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Tenofovir disoproxil (Vread®) had a new indication acknowledged for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adults with decompensated liver disease. It’s use is restricted to initiation on the advice of specialists therapy.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Fluorouracil 0.5% and salicylic acid (Actikerall®) was a new combination added to the Total Formulary for the topical treatment of hyperkeratotic actinic keratosis (gradeI/II) in adults.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Botulinum toxin type A (Xeomin®) had a new indication for treatment of post-stroke spasticity of the upper limbs acknowledged in the Total Formulary. Use is restricted to specialists only.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Pravastatin was reinstated to the Total Formulary following an appeal. It is restricted to use only in patients in whom drug interactions might pose a problem or for patients who are intolerant of simvastatin and atorvastatin.
NEW MEDICINES, INDICATION AND FORMULATIONS NOT ADDED TO FORMULARY
The following were not added to Formulary following the latest ADTC meeting:
Olmesartan/amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide (Sevikar HCT®) for hypertension in patients controlled on these constituents.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Vardenafil orodispersible tablet (Levitra®) for erectile dysfunction.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Abatacept (Orencia®) for rheumatoid arthritis in combination with methotrexate after failure of one of more DMARD.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Rosuvastatin (Crestor®) for primary prevention of cardiovascular events.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Eribulin (Halaven®) for third line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Infliximab (Remicade®) for moderately active Crohn’s disease.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Bromfenac (Yellox®) for the treatment of postoperative ocular inflammation following cataract surgery
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Quetiapine (Seroquel XL®) as add-on treatment of major depressive episodes.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
Conestat alfa (Ruconest®) for treatment of angioedema attacks in adults with hereditary angioedema (HAE) due to C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency
For the relevant SMC advice click here
OTHER FORMULARY DECISIONS
Buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual tablets (Suboxone®) for the treatment of opioid dependency had its restriction reviewed via a Formulary appeal. It is now restricted to initiation by addiction services or GPs who have received appropriate training and authorisation from Addiction Services, for those patients in whom methadone is not suitable and for whom the use of buprenorphine is considered appropriate.
For the relevant SMC advice click here
FORMULARY DECISIONS STILL TO BE MADE
The following new medicines, indications or formulations have had a decision on Formulary status deferred to allow further consultation, protocol development or implementation plans. Until a decision is made, these medicines, indications or formulations are non-Formulary.
Azacitidine (Vidaza®) for the treatment of adults with intermediate-2 and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) or acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) who are not eligible for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Regional Cancer Advisory Group)
Dabigatran (Pradaxa®) for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in adults with atrial fibrillation (Heart MCN and outcome of National Consensus)
Bocepravir (Victrelis®) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection in combination with peg interferon alfa and ribavirin in treatment experienced and treatment naïve patients (Hepatitis MCN)
Bortezomib and thalidomide for the first line treatment of multiple myeloma as outlined in NICE MTA 228 (Regional Cancer Advisory Group)