NICE has issued a positive Final Appraisal Determination recommending the use of Basilea’s Toctino on the NHS.
Toctino (alitretinoin) has been recommended as a treatment option for adults with severe chronic hand eczema that has not responded to potent topical corticosteroids.
“The positive Final Appraisal Determination is an important milestone for Basilea and is confirmation of the value Toctino brings to patients and the healthcare community,” said Dr. Anthony Man, Chief Executive Officer, Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. “The NICE recommendation should provide patients in England and Wales who suffer from severe chronic hand eczema a real chance to obtain hands cleared of eczema and the possibility to resume normal activities.”
This decision follows a positive recommendation by the SMC in March, making Toctino available to patients across the UK. Toctino is currently the only therapy approved for severe chronic hand eczema unresponsive to potent topical corticosteroids.
Hand eczema is a common inflammatory skin disease, affecting up to 10% of the population, and is often chronic and relapsing. The chronic form of the condition is thought to affect 5–7% of patients, causing impaired use of their hands and a considerable impact on their ability to perform everyday activities.