Although we will not be issuing a formal press release, we wanted
to let you know that NICE has today (28 March) issued final draft
guidance recommending Tezepelumab (Tezspire, AstraZeneca) as an
additional maintenance treatment for adults and people over 12
with severe asthma.
Tezepelumab is administered by an injector pen which can be used
at home or in a clinical setting every four weeks. It works by
reducing a certain type of white blood cell to help decrease
swelling and irritation of the airways to allow for easier
breathing.
Tezepelumab is recommended for people whose condition is not
controlled by high-dose inhaled corticosteroids
(anti-inflammatory medicine), and another maintenance treatment.
It is also recommended the treatment for people who have had
three or more exacerbations (asthma attacks) in the past year, or
those who are having maintenance oral corticosteroids.
Over three million people in England have asthma and over 100,000
of those people have severe asthma.
Severe asthma is usually treated with inhaled corticosteroids
plus another maintenance treatment. Oral corticosteroids can be
used to prevent asthma attacks, but they may have adverse
effects.
Clinical trial results showed that tezepelumab, when added to
usual treatment, reduced exacerbations (asthma attacks) and the
dose of oral corticosteroids patients need, compared with a
placebo.
The company estimates that just under 60,000 people in England
could be eligible to receive this treatment.
The company has a commercial arrangement through a simple patient
access scheme which makes tezepelumab available to the NHS with a
discount.
You can read the full draft final draft guidance on tezepelumab
for treating severe asthma on the NICE website.
