Alemtuzumab approved by NICE

Alemtuzumab is now approved in England (from 28 May 2014) and Scotland (7 July 2014) as a treatment for adults with active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis on the NHS (with funding approved by NHS England on 9 September 2014). This liberal approval represents a significant change in the way drugs for multiple sclerosis are approved; responsibility for deciding who gets alemtuzumab is being handed over to patients and their doctors. People with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis now have the option of an aggressive therapy early in their illness. This is not for everyone, and we urge caution on the behalf of doctors and patients considering alemtuzumab treatment. But we are pleased this is now an option. Alemtuzumab is now also licensed in Canada, Argentina, Australia, Brazil and Mexico. On November 14th 2014, it was also licensed in the US for “patients who have had an inadequate response to two or more drugs indicated for the treatment of MS”. See here. For our latest publication on the long-term effects of alemtuzumab, see here.

Trials in multiple sclerosis

We are no longer recruiting for our trial of alemtuzumab and palifermin in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (”CAMTHY”). An interim analysis failed to show a benefit of palifermin. (More information on this trial can be found here: for people with multiple sclerosis; for doctors) I am pleased to say that NHS England have finally agreed to fund the NHS costs of bexarotene as a potential remyelinating agent in multiple sclerosis. I will post more information when we are ready to start. Alasdair Coles February 2016