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SEVEN NEW DRUGS have been approved by the HSE which will target conditions that existing approved medicines cannot treat.
These seven new life-enhancing drugs will be funded from a €20 million allocation for new medicines that was announced by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly in December.
Osteoporosis, antimicrobial-resistant infections, and several types of cancer are among the conditions that will be tackled by the newly approved drugs.
Dr Colm Henry, chief clinical officer with the HSE, said he hopes the approval will “support people to live healthier, happier lives in the future”.
Dr Henry added that the medicines will be available under the Community Drugs Schemes and other arrangements, which will “ensure equitable access for those whose treatment requires them”.
He also remarked upon the HSE assessment for approving medicines and said such decisions are based on several factors, including clinical need, efficacy and effectiveness.
“Many of the newly approved drugs are responding to a previously unmet need,” added Dr Henry.
“They will target conditions that existing approved medications cannot treat.”
Cefiderocol (Fetcroja®) has been approved for the treatment of adults who have antimicrobial-resistant infections.
In these cases where no other medication has been effective, Cefiderocol presents a new opportunity to treat extremely vulnerable patients, for whom medication options are limited.
However, Dr Henry cautioned that “given the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance, it will be important to limit the use of this drug to cases that are otherwise beyond help”.
Elsewhere, Romosozumab (Evenity®) has been approved for the treatment of postmenopausal women, with severe osteoporosis, who have experienced a major osteoporotic fracture within the previous two years and who are at imminent risk of another fragility fracture.
Dr Henry described this as a “first-in-class medication” that could “prevent these women from requiring additional care”.
He added: “It’s been shown that severe fractures in older age can result in morbidity within one year. Providing these medications could have a significant benefit for this population in the future.”
Meanwhile, three medications [Osimertinib (Tagrisso®); Atezolizumab (Tecentriq®); and Atezolizumab (Tecentriq®)] to treat adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have also been approved.
NSCLC has a high rate of tumour recurrence post-surgery, but Dr Henry said these new medicines can prevent recurrence and potentially prolong a patient’s chance of survival post-treatment.
Another group to benefit from these newly-approved medicines are transplant patients.
“Transplant patients are immunosuppressed to reduce the risk of organ rejection,” said Dr Henry.
“This leaves them susceptible to other infections, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV).”
Maribavir (Livtencity®) has been approved to treat CMV and reduce the risk of infection and illness for patients.
And as a result of Ireland’s participation in the Beneluxa Initiative, a collaboration between Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, and Ireland, Atidasagene autotemcel (Libmeldy®) has been approved to treat metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD).
MLD is a rare genetic disease and Libmeldy is a one-time therapy designed to correct this gene mutation.
A HSE spokesperson said that “confidential pricing agreements” mean it is not possible to provide a breakdown of costs for each newly approved drug.
Last year, close to €3 billion was spent on medicines.
The Department of Health said this represented nearly €1 in every €8 of public funding being spent on health.
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€3b on meds. In this instance, fair play hse. Lots of countries wouldn’t spend that kinda money to help a small minority of patients.
It’s great talking about it,but will the people on medical cards be actually given it,I’ve 6 different autoimmunes and I’m on 28 tablets a day,and in the last 6 months,I’ve not got medication that’s not the generic one,they do not work as good as the proper ones,especially the 1s that I take 3 times a day,until they were changed,I had a better quality of life,and had the symptons under control,I can understand they giving the cheaper make to cut costs,but because I’ve a medical card,I’ve to take what I’m giving,When u have any autoimmunes they are so hard to treat,because mine came from some kind of virus in January 2018,because it went into the brain,that’s what caused all the autoimmunes,I gave almost 2 years in constant pain,so many autoimmunes u can’t see,mental health is so bad aswell
@Kathleen Peters: Generics contain the same active ingredient as the branded meds. They work exactly the same and are regulated the same by the HPRA for use in Ireland. Ask any doctor or pharmacist. You are letting your mind think that they are not as effective.
It takes a right wagon to whinge about the free medication they receive via the medical card scheme. Entitled moaner.
@Sun Rise: horrible comment
@Sun Rise:
What an absolute prîçk you are. Shame on you.
@Sun Rise: free medication you say? when healthcare should be about need and not how deep your pocket is.
@Sun Rise: And for your information the HSE is a system paid for by the taxpayer. It’s not free by your assertion
So you’re telling me there are life saving drugs that could have saved lives before are only being used now. My heart sank after reading this.
@Emer Daly: They have been in use since they were approved by the HPRA. The HSE may not have been giving them for free to people on medical cards because of the cost.
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