Court Orders Review Of Alzheimer's Guidelines

A high court judge has ordered a review of guidelines on the way it decides which Alzheimer's patients are given three drugs to treat the brain-destroying disease.

Mrs Justice Hobbs ruled that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the body responsible for providing advice on treatments available on the NHS, must rewrite guidance on how the disease is assessed.

It is the very first time a judicial review has been sought on NICE guidance.

Eisai, the Japanese company which makes Aricept and Pfizer, brought the case to the High Court with support from the Alzheimer's society.

The judge said: "In the light of the court's finding that the guidance is discriminatory, the court directs Nice to amend the guidance so as to ensure its compliance with Nice's duties and obligations under anti-discrimination legislation."

In a statement, Eisai and Pfizer said the court ruling was "a major victory for the many critics of the process by which NICE reaches it often seemingly clinically perverse decisions".

Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE said: "Our guidance stands and the drugs continue to be recommended only for people with moderate Alzheimer's disease, but the court has asked us to clarify our guidance when it is used for certain groups.

"Alzheimer's disease is a devastating illness, but the evidence indicates that these drugs are simply not effective for some patients.

"That is why we also issued advice last year on the broader support that should be provided for people with Alzheimer's disease and those who care for them, creating core standards for the NHS and care homes that will make a real difference for patients and their families."

(CD)