Boehringer Ingelheim’s Metalyse (tenecteplase) has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a treatment option for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) in adults.
The decision could help save the NHS millions of pounds due to Metalyse costing less than the current standard for treating this type of stroke, Actilyse (alteplase), which is also sold by Boehringer in the UK.
Strokes are estimated to be responsible for around 100,000 hospital admissions in England every year.
Representing around 85% of all stroke cases in the UK, AIS occurs when there is a blockage in a blood vessel, resulting in a restricted blood supply to the brain.
Given during the early phases of a stroke, Metalyse is designed to activate the production of plasmin, an enzyme that breaks down blood clots, to help restore blood flow through the blocked artery.
NICE’s decision was based on clinical evidence from the large ongoing UK trial, ATTEST-2, which has been investigating whether Metalyse is more effective and safer than Actilyse, along with published results from completed trials.
Results demonstrated that Metalyse was as effective as Actilyse in breaking up blood clots or preventing new blood clots from forming after an AIS.
Commenting on the recommendation, Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “We know that… it is important that patients receive treatments that can help to reduce the effects of a stroke as quickly as possible.
“[This] guidance means that not only will people who have had an AIS be able to access a new treatment option, but the NHS could save millions by switching to it, making it a very effective use of taxpayers’ money.”
The recommendation comes after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved Metalyse in April to treat AIS within 4.5 hours of the first symptoms appearing, as well as suspected acute cases of myocardial infarction (heart attack) within six hours of symptoms.
Most recently, Boehringer and Brainomix entered into a strategic partnership for a collaborative programme to improve the identification and access to treatment for people living with fibrosing lung disease in the US.