Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2019
745. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a new anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide, CGRP, medication for the preventative treatment of chronic migraine; if the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE, has completed its full health technology assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18900/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. The Minister for Health has no role in this statutory process.
I am advised by the HSE that there are currently two products undergoing assessment by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) for the treatment of chronic migraine.
On 17 April 2019 the NCPE published a rapid review report on fremanezumab which is indicated for prophylaxis of migraine in adults who have at least four migraine days per month.
The rapid review offered the following recommendation to the HSE “a full health technology assessment is recommended to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of fremanezumab compared with the current standard of care, on the basis of the proposed price relative to currently available therapies. This recommendation should be considered while also having regard to the criteria specified in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods Act) 2013.”
The HSE is formally considering the NCPE recommendation.
The NCPE is in the process of carrying out a full health technology assessment on a second agent Erenumab (Aimovig) which is indicated for the treatment of migraine in adults who have at least 4 migraine days per month.
The applicant company submitted a dossier on 22 January 2019 and the NCPE has completed a preliminary review and is awaiting a response from the applicant company.
