LONDON, Sep 22 (APM) - Bayer's eye drug Eylea is set to be available to even more patients in the UK after it was recommended on Friday by health technology assessment body NICE for the treatment of visual impairment due to myopic choroidal neovascularisation.

NICE, which provides guidance on what drugs are a cost-effective use of NHS resources, published a final appraisal determination backing the drug in this indication, provided Bayer provides it a confidential discount through a patient access scheme.

The guidance also states that if patients and their clinicians consider both Eylea (aflibercept) and Novartis's Lucentis (ranibizumab) to be suitable treatments, the least costly should be used, taking into account anticipated administration costs, dosage and price per dose.

An indirect comparison of Eylea and Lucentis shows that both drugs provide similar overall health benefits, said NICE, adding that the total costs of Eylea are the same as or less than those of Lucentis.

The list price of Eylea 40 mg/mL is 816 per 0.1-mL vial pounds, according to NICE, although the NHS will not pay the full price due to the patient access scheme.

Eylea was approved in Europe in 2015 for visual impairment due to myopic choroidal neovascularisation (APMHE 44223). The condition is characterised by the growth of damaging blood vessels that grow beneath the retina. It can lead to deterioration of a person's vision.

Bayer said in a Friday statement that myopic choroidal neovascularisatio occurs in around 5-10% of patients with pathologic myopia, or severe near-sightedness.

Lars Bruening, chief executive of Bayer UK/Ireland, said: “We are pleased that NICE has recognised the value of Eylea and the benefits that it can bring to patients and the clinical community. At Bayer we are committed to ensuring all eligible patients have access to Eyleain line with the market authorisation so it is great news for patients with mCNV in England and Wales who will have access to this effective treatment as soon as adopted by policy makers.”

Eylea is already recommended by NICE for several eye conditions, including of wet age-related macular degeneration; visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion; visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion; and visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema.

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