A new drug for the potentially fatal virus hepatitis B has been approved by NICE. Entecavir, which works to reduce the amount of the virus in the blood, will be made available on the NHS for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. The virus affects one in every 1,000 people in the UK. The new ruling could lead to huge quality of life improvements for thousands of UK patients.
The British Liver Trust has welcomed the decision. Chief Executive Alison Rogers said: “Having a new treatment to manage Hepatitis B could have huge benefits for patients. Over time, drug resistance builds up, leaving patients at risk of cirrhosis and cancer. Having a new drug could hugely improve patient’s quality of life.
But this is a treatment, not a cure. A vaccine was licensed over 20 years ago. It is essential that this becomes a routine children’s immunisation to help eradicate Hepatitis B from the UK.”
Hepatitis B is one of the world’s most common and serious infectious diseases, affecting 2 billion people worldwide. In the UK, rates of hepatitis B infection are likely to rise with increases in foreign travel and the impact of migration. The virus can survive for more than a week in dried blood in blood stains, minute dried blood spots and razor blades.
NICE is the NHS body responsible for producing national guidance on health technologies and treatments. NICE assesses technologies for their clinical and cost-effectiveness. Once it has recommended a medicine, the NHS is obliged to make it available for patients
For further information please contact:
Imogen Shillito
Phone: 01425 481 320
Out of hours: 07939 960 420
Email: pressoffice@britishlivertrust.org.uk
Email: imogen.shillito@britishlivertrust.org.uk
Web: www.britishlivertrust.org.uk
British Liver Trust, 2 Southampton Road,
Ringwood, BH24 1HY
Editor’s Note:
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The British Liver Trust is Britain’s only national liver disease charity for adults. We work to improve the lives of people suffering from liver disease with key roles in education, support and research.
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Liver disease is one of the UK’s five ‘big killers’ and the only one on the rise. The Trust is working urgently to encourage prevention and investment in treatment and care for people with liver disease. Much of the increasing incidence of liver disease stems from lifestyle trends – relating to alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis. However, liver disease has many other causes including genetics, abnormalities in the immune system and even the medicines we take. The Trust is working to raise awareness about the liver and combat the stigma associated with liver disease.
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The Trust provides a comprehensive website www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, free medical helpline – 0800 652 7330, and distributes a wide range of information leaflets to individuals and healthcare professionals. In addition, the Trust is a contact point for support groups nationwide, as well as co-ordinating funding and providing support for research.
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Entecavir, within its marketing authorisation, is recommended as an option for the treatment of people with chronic HBeAg-positive or HBeAg-negative hepatitis B in whom antiviral treatment is indicated.
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Entecavir (Baraclude, Bristol-Myers Squibb) is an oral nucleoside analogue. It works by inhibiting the viral DNA polymerase responsible for hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Entecavir has a marketing authorisation in the UK for the treatment of chronic HBV infection in adults with compensated liver disease and evidence of active viral replication, persistently elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and histological evidence of active inflammation and/or fibrosis. |