In September 2012, the SMC issued advice recommending the use of fingolimod in the population of patients with high disease activity despite treatment with a beta-interferon and with an unchanged or increased relapse rate or ongoing severe relapses, as compared to the previous year. Please see the link below for further information.
NICE guidance on fingolimod was published in April 2012 – this recommends it as an option for the treatment of highly active relapsing–remitting MS in adults, only if they have an unchanged or increased relapse rate or ongoing severe relapses compared with the previous year despite treatment with beta interferon, and the manufacturer provides fingolimod with the discount agreed as part of the patient access scheme.
Although the Committee heard from clinical specialists that fingolimod would provide the greatest benefit to people with rapidly evolving severe relapsing–remitting MS, because they currently have very few treatment options, a recommendation on its use in this population could not be made because the manufacturer had not submitted an analysis of fingolimod compared with natalizumab in this population (natalizumab is often considered as a first-line treatment in this setting in line with NICE technology appraisal guidance 127).