The U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Biogen Inc. and Merck Serono SA's multiple sclerosis drugs after the companies cut prices for the therapies.
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a potentially disabling autoimmune disease — where the immune system attacks a sufferer's body by mistake — that affects the brain and spinal cord.
In draft guidance, the price watchdog recommended Teva's Copaxone, Biogen's Avonex, Merck Serono's Rebif as options for treating people with relapsing-remitting MS.
Novartis AG's Extavia — the sole MS therapy approved in the previous draft guidance — was also recommended in the guidance.
NICE did not recommend Bayer AG's Betaferon for the same indication because the therapy was not cost effective.
