Disappointment as Alzheimer's drugs restricted in UK

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A long-awaited decision on funding dementia drugs on the National Health Service went against the hopes of patients, carers and campaigners.
Drugs that can hold back Alzheimer's disease in its early stages have been a subject for debate in Britain for some time. The issue is whether they're thought sufficiently cost-effective to be funded by the National Health Service (NHS) - which means they'd be free to those who need them. Originally, they were funded, but the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) had a re-think on this. Another drug, Ebixa, is recommended for moderate to severe dementia but it has not been clear if this would be funded at all.

The NICE ruling that came out late last month says that the cognitive enhancers - Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl - can now only be given free to those in the moderate stages of Alzheimer's. Those in the early and late stages won't qualify (although they could pay for the drug if they can get a prescription). Ebixa wont be funded at all. The decision has upset many, for it leaves Britain alone in Europe as far as provision of these drugs is concerned. Those currently on the drugs will continue to get them, however.

Source
The Alzheimer's Society 26th May 2006

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