Iluvien fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant regulatory update
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) recommended the restricted use of Iluvien fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant from Alimera on the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland to treat vision impairment associated with chronic diabetic macular edema (DME) considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies. The drug is restricted to patients in whom the affected eye is pseudophakic - has an artificial lens after cataract surgery - and retreatment would take place only if the patient has previously responded to fluocinolone acetonide and vision has deteriorated to <20/32. The recommendation is contingent on Alimera providing Iluvien at a discount under a patient access scheme. In November, the U.K.'s NICE issued final guidance recommending the use of Iluvien for a subset of patients with chronic DME (see BioCentury, Dec. 9, 2013). ...