Boehringer and Lilly’s Jardiance (empagliflozin) has been backed by NICE as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
The positive final appraisal decision from NICE marks a turnaround for the product, which was last year knocked back by the cost-effectiveness body for England and Wales.
In draft guidance issued in August NICE acknowledged the drug’s clinical effectiveness but took issue with what it saw as a lack of data to justify Jardiance’s cost.
Boehringer and Lilly said the drug has been recommended for a number of indications in type 2 diabetes, including in combination with metformin and in a triple therapy regimen in combination with metformin and a sulfonylurea.
Jardiance was also recommended for type 2 diabetes patients with metformin and a thiazolidinedione and in combination with insulin with or without other antidiabetic drug and in those who are currently receiving NHS treatment.
Dr Charlies De Wet, medical director at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: “We are very pleased that NICE has recommended empagliflozin as a clinically and cost effective treatment. It will provide an additional therapeutic option for the management of glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes in England.”
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is jointly marketed by Boehringer and Eli Lilly and forms part of their 2011 diabetes alliance. Approved in Europe in May last year, the drug received a US licence in August.