Alzheimer’s drugs appeal refused

Patients groups lobbying for better access to drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease have criticised a decision by NICE to reject their appeal for greater access to certain drugs. They argue that donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine could be used effectively to treat moderate stage disease, but NICE said studies showed the drugs “did not make enough of a difference”. However, NICE guidance issued in 2001 recommended that the drugs, which can make it easier to carry out everyday tasks, should be used as standard treatment for the early stages of the disease, but in July 2005 it said access to the drugs should be restricted because they did not represent good value for money. The final guidance will apply only to newly-diagnosed patients.