(Reuters) – Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) will block Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s drug donanemab on Wednesday, deeming it too expensive for NHS patients, the Telegraph reported on Tuesday.
British regulators are expected to declare the drug safe for use on Wednesday, but the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which decides what drugs are available on the NHS, will immediately rule that it is too expensive for NHS patients, the newspaper reported.
Eli Lilly, NHS and NICE did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for a comment.
The Telegraph has previously reported in August that donanemab would be rejected by NICE and blocked for use by the NHS.
Scientists have hailed donanemab as the “best ever” treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, reportedly being even more effective at slowing the progression of the condition than previous treatments.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved donanemab for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s in July.
(Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
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