Finally we are allowed to broadcast the fact that Iluvien implants are now approved by NICE for prevention of relapse in recurrent non-infectious uveitis (NIU-PS) which includes birdshot uveitis. https://t.co/YWx9qxXL2k

As some of you already know BUS played an important part in the appraisal process by providing our expert statement as well as our very own patient expert witness, who, as well as providing written evidence, attended the actual appraisal and we understand spoke eloquently at the hearing about her own experiences. Uveitis consultant Laura Steeples from Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, provided her professional expertise in the assessment process. 

From feedback received, NICE took into account what the professional and patient experts had to say, but of course cost is always critical, so we understand that negotiations on this front were required. 

One more tool for our doctors to use, but we note that the guidance says: ” …if clinically appropriate.” so it is unlikely to be handed out too freely because of the cost considerations and is likely to be offered only to patients who really need it.

Following publication of its Final Appraisal Document, NICE requires that clinical commissioning groups, NHS England, and local authorities comply with its recommendation on ILUVIEN^® within 3 months and within 2 months for NHS Wales.

Mr Carlos Pavesio, Specialist Uveitis Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: “It is welcome news that there is now a long-acting intravitreal steroid available on the NHS for preventing relapse in patients with NIU-PS, as this is a treatment priority for this condition. Preventing vision loss due to relapse has a huge impact on patients’ quality of life.”

Complications resulting from intraocular inflammation can damage the eye, so timely diagnosis and effective management of NIU-PS are imperative to avoid potentially severe vision loss.

36-month data from the PSV-FAI-001 study, presented at The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual conference in April 2019, showed that significantly more eyes treated with ILUVIEN^®experienced no recurrence* of uveitis over three years compared to those in the treated control group (34.5% of eyes treated with ILUVIEN^®versus 2.4% treated control).

The secondary outcomes of the study showed that patients treated with ILUVIEN^®had a reduced need of adjunctive systemic or immunosuppressant treatments.

Please find a link to the iluvien.co.uk website for more patient information. NICE