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The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has made a new recommendation in its final guidance this week that could benefit almost 30,000 adults suffering from moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids. The Department of Health and Social Care's executive non-departmental public body, NICE, has recommended linzagolix, also known as Yselty by Theramex to treat uterine fibroids. Linzagolix is recommended for use as a longer-term treatment (more than 6 months) and is not for people who need short-term treatment, for example, before planned uterine fibroid surgery. According to Jonathan Benger, NICE's Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, expressed his approval of the new recommendation, stating, " What makes Linzagolix particularly noteworthy is its flexibility; it can be taken either with or without hormone therapy. "This means that clinicians can now offer a more personalised approach to care, tailoring treatment to the specific needs and circumstances of each patient. "For many women, this will represent a significant improvement in managing this often challenging and distressing condition."

'Tepotinib' has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to patients with a specific gene mutation of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The new potentially life-extending drug is available from Thursday (14 April). It has been recommended for routine use across the NHS in England through Project Orbis, a programme to review and approve promising cancer drugs helping patients access treatments faster. NICE has published its final appraisal document recommending tepotinib (also known as Tepmetko and produced by company Merck Serono Ltd) as an option for treating advanced NSCLC with METex14 skipping gene alterations in adults. People with METex14 skipping alterations of NSCLC make up between 1-2% of all adults with lung cancer in England. Tepotinib, which requires people to take two tablets once daily, provides a new targeted treatment for adults with METex14 skipping gene alterations. Just over 700 people in England would be eligible to receive tepotinib as either a first or second-line treatment.

Pharmacy Supervision Practice Group, an organisations from across the community pharmacy sector, who have come together to look into the future "supervision" in community pharmacy, have published their final report. Over the course of nine collaborative and positive workshop-style discussions the Supervision Practice Group aimed to provide recommendations to reframe legislation, regulation and professional standards and guidance to achieve a new vision for community pharmacy. The group have produced a report which makes several recommendations on the subjects of: * the legislation relating to "supervision"; * the temporary absence of the RP from the pharmacy; * delegation; * the preparation and assembly of medicines when the RP is not signed in. The group have provided recommendations on which the Department of and Social Care and the regulators can draft specifically worded revisions to legislation and regulatory standards. These specific legislative and regulatory changes that are proposed by government and regulators will be subject to a full consultation process.

Despite a 13 per cent increase from last year, less than a quarter (21%) of pharmacy teams recommend Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) as a first line of treatment for frequent heartburn. There has been a 4% decrease in pharmacy teams considering 'frequent heartburn' as a condition that occurs more than once a week 8-in-10 said a larger pack size would be useful to their patients who suffer from frequent heartburn. Haleon, formerly part of GSK, has recently commissioned research to better understand how pharmacy teams help patients to treat frequent heartburn. Comparing with data captured last year, there has been a been a +13% increase in the number of pharmacy teams recommending Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) (21% in 2022 vs 8% in 2021). Nexium Control, the UK's number one heartburn product for 24-hour protection, aims to use this research to provide better support for pharmacists and their teams and encourage the recommendation of PPIs, where appropriate for frequent heartburn, over other heartburn remedies.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England and the Royal College of General Practitioners have published recommendations for the roll-out and success of the GP Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (GP CPCS). These recommendations follow a workshop with stakeholders from pharmacy, general practice and representative bodies, examining ways to maximise the potential of the service and meet growing demand on the health service. The workshop report made five recommendations: The NHS England and Improvement should provide additional investment in local system support and resources to drive the CPCS implementation and uptake between general practice and community pharmacy. National representative bodies should work with NHS E&I to develop national and local engagement and streamline communication plans for CPCS referral pathway. Focus on expanding the role of community pharmacists in the management of minor illness. Evaluation of CPCS service and its impacts on general practice workload, patient outcomes and health inequalities.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended abemaciclib also called Verzenios, made by Eli Lilly, for people with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence who have had surgery to remove their tumour. The clinical trial result showed that people having abemaciclib with hormone therapy had a more than 30 per cent better chance of their cancer not coming back following surgery compared with people having hormone therapy alone. Helen Knight, interim director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: "Today's positive draft recommendation, which comes less than a month after abemaciclib received its licence, is fantastic news. The fact that we have been able to produce draft recommendations so quickly is testament to the success of our ambition to support patient access to clinically and cost effective treatments as early as possible. "Until now there have been no targeted treatments for people with this type of breast cancer. Abemaciclib with hormone therapy represents a significant improvement in how it is treated because being able to have a targeted treatment earlier after surgery will increase the chance of curing the disease and reduce the likelihood of developing incurable advanced disease."

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended faricimab as treatment option for adults with wet age-related macular degeneration or diabetic macular oedema. Thousands of people in England could benefit from the recommendation of a new drug that helps to treat two leading causes of sight loss and visual impairment. Faricimab is administered as an eye injection and is being recommended as an option for treating some adults with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or with diabetic macular oedema (DMO). In the key clinical trials, aflibercept, another eye injection drug used to treat AMD and DMO, was administered every 8 weeks, while faricimab dosing, based on assessments of the disease activity, allowed for an interval of up to 16 weeks between doses, and was found to be equally effective. Up to 300,000 people in England with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) could be eligible to receive faricimab as part of their treatment alongside just over 28,000 people with diabetic macular oedema.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy (paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel) which is said to benefit people with triple negative breast cancer. Clinical trial evidence shows that, compared with paclitaxel, pembrolizumab combination increases how long people have before their cancer gets worse and how long they live. NICE already recommends atezolizumab in combination with chemotherapy for untreated PD-L1-positive, locally advanced or metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer. Atezolizumab combination is recommended by NICE for people with IC equal to or greater than 1%. "This means that some people who can't have atezolizumab combination could be eligible for pembrolizumab combination," said NICE. NICE's independent appraisal committee also agreed that the pembrolizumab combination meets the higher cost-effectiveness threshold for life-extending treatments for people with a short life expectancy. Given by injection every 3 weeks, pembrolizumab (also called Keytruda and made by Merck Sharp and Dohme) is a type of immunotherapy that specifically targets triple negative breast cancer. It works by blocking the activity of a protein known as PD-L1 which is produced in larger amounts on cancerous cells than normal cells. By blocking PD-L1 it helps the person's own immune cells to attack the cancer.

Patients suffering from chronic and episodic migraine attacks are set to benefit from a groundbreaking recommendation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) regarding a new medication. The atogepant, a first-of-its-kind preventive drug for migraine, offers hope for those grappling with this debilitating condition and can be taken orally. Published as part of the final guidance draft, NICE has greenlit the atogepant, also known as Aquipta and manufactured by AbbVie, as an option for preventing both chronic and episodic migraines in adults. Specifically, this recommendation is for individuals who have experienced at least four migraine days per month and have failed to find relief with at least three previous preventive treatments. With approximately 4.5 million people in the UK affected by various forms of migraine, this new recommendation marks a significant advancement in migraine management as the condition significantly impacts patients' day-to-day activities as well as places a heavy burden on the NHS and the wider economy.

The College of General Dentistry, in partnership with Haleon, has unveiled a new report outlining recommendations from oral health professionals on how to best improve the provision of preventative oral care. The report includes insight-driven recommendations to bridge the gap between the intentions and practical delivery of this care. Drawing on input from UK oral health professionals, the report highlighted the need for redesigned NHS contracts that would provide more time and financial support in giving preventative oral care advice. It also called for increased resources to offer consistent preventative oral healthcare education to combat misinformation and promote healthier habits. Other key recommendations from the report include: Working with the government to update the Delivering Better Oral Health Toolkit to make it simpler and more user-friendly. Launching a national communications campaign to tackle misinformation about oral care Encouraging businesses to include dental cover in their employee assistance programmes

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has welcomed the Chancellor's announcement of a 5.5 percent pay increase for NHS pharmacists. Following the acceptance of the NHS Pay Review Body's (PRB) recommendations, Chancellor Rachel Reeves shared the announcement in a speech to Parliament on 29 July. She confirmed that the pay review bodies' recommendations for health and education for 2024-25 would be fully implemented. Reeves' speech came alongside the release of her audit into public finances, a commitment she made shortly after the recent election. The audit confirms that the recommendations from various PRBs, including those for NHS staff, doctors, dentists, teachers, and other public servants, have been approved and will be acted upon. "That is the right decision for the people who work in and most importantly the people who use our public services…giving hardworking staff the pay rise they deserve while ensuring we can recruit and retain the people we need," Reeves announced.

Lets talk about fat intake recommendations. As it turns out there are two types of fats. The good one and the bad one. How much bad fat are you allowed to consume? Is there a limit to the good fats too? Find out by reading on...

Lets talk about fat intake recommendations. As it turns out there are two types of fats. The good one and the bad one. How much bad fat are you allowed to consume? Is there a limit to the good fats too? Find out by reading on...

In its first, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the use of Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to treat people at the highest risk of catching HIV. The announcement comes along with a consultation on draft guideline by NICE on reducing sexually transmitted infections. NICE's recommendation is backed up by the government's HIV Action Plan to hit zero new transmissions of HIV by 2030. The pill prevents HIV by stopping the virus from crossing into the healthy cells and replicating. According to the UK PROUD study, PrEP reduced the risk of HIV infection by 86 per cent for men who have sex with men. However, people taking the pill must also get regular HIV testing and STI screening done every three months.

The Home Affairs Committee has called upon the government to revise its current drug policy, moving away from the exclusive 'abstinence only' approach towards a more practical strategy that highlights harm reduction. The HAC's recommendations also include the introduction of a national naloxone programme in England, with community pharmacies playing a central role in facilitating access. The committee published its comprehensive report on August 31, with key recommendations, including the 'urgent' reclassification of psychedelic drugs for therapeutic research; a pilot safe consumption facility program (long resisted by the Westminster Government despite Scottish lobbying); and enhanced provision and research on cannabis-based medicinal products (CBPMs). The report urged the establishment of a national naloxone programme in England, aligning with devolved nations. It also highlighted the role of community pharmacists and peer initiatives for effective distribution and administration. Furthermore, the report emphasises enhanced naloxone distribution for prison leavers. Naloxone is a medication capable of rapidly reversing heroin or methadone overdoses, potentially saving lives.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pharmacy published a new report on Monday (January 23) that calls for "urgent action" to relieve funding pressure so there are "opportunities" for community pharmacy teams to deliver even more for their patients. The report highlights the need for a new "strategic vision" for pharmacy and highlights opportunities for the network to be empowered to deliver even more for patients. However, the manifesto also underlines that there are the very real risks that this opportunity may be lost if significant and ongoing pressures are not addressed. The recommendations are based on written and oral evidence gathered from frontline pharmacists, GPs, professional bodies and healthcare experts. To harness the potential of pharmacy, the report recommends the Government must take urgent action to relieve the funding pressures on the community pharmacy sector in the short term and review the long-term funding model for pharmacy. It also suggested the Government must harness the power of pharmacy to help the NHS deal with the COVID-19 backlog and the UK's growing healthcare challenges. It further recommended that future commissioning and funding must recognise that community pharmacy is the front door to the NHS for many patients.

AstraZeneca said on Monday (June 27) two of its existing therapies were recommended for treating patients with some forms of high-risk breast cancers in the European Union, in a boost to the company's oncology portfolio. Lynparza, a cancer drug developed jointly with U.S.-based Merck, was backed for standalone use or in combination with endocrine therapy in adults with a form of genetically mutated early-stage breast cancer. The drug, which has received a similar recommendation in the United States in March, is a key asset for AstraZeneca. It was recommended in patients with low-to-normal levels of a protein known as HER2 that is the target of several new therapies. Enhertu - developed jointly with Japan's Daiichi Sankyo (4568.T) - was the other drug that was endorsed by the European Medicines Agency for treating an aggressive form of breast cancer characterised by a high rate of HER2.

In its first, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended the use of long-acting injectable treatment for HIV-1 infection in adults, making around 13,000 people eligible for treatment with cabotegravir with rilpivirine in England. The new treatment aims to keep the number of virus particles in the blood so low that it cannot be detected or transmitted between people. Current treatment for HIV‑1 is lifelong antiretroviral tablets taken each day. Use of cabotegravir with rilpivirine is recommended when there is no evidence tosuspect viral resistance, and no previous failure of other anti-HIV-1 medicines. "Clinical trial results show that cabotegravir with rilpivirine is as effective as oralantiretrovirals at keeping the viral load low," NICE stated. Both are administered as two separate injections every two months, after an initial oral (tablet) lead-in period.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance on 'Evusheld' which is not recommended for vulnerable adult with high risk of severe Covid-19 on Thursday (16 February). The draft guidance is open for public consultation until 9 March 2023. The committee will consider any comments received at a meeting currently due to take place on 4 April 2023. It comes after last month's decision by the US drug regulator to withdraw its emergency use authorisation for Evusheld as a preventative treatment for Covid-19, which said there was insufficient evidence that Evusheld is effective against the dominant variants of Covid-19 in the US. NICE's independent appraisal committee has reached the same conclusion having considered evidence which shows Evusheld is unlikely to prevent infection with most of the variants circulating in the UK now and in the near future. It has also announced that it is developing a new review process to update recommendations on the cost-effectiveness of Covid-19 treatments so they can be made available more quickly to patients if they show promise against new variants and are found to be cost-effective.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Enhertu for people with advance breast cancer. "There is not enough evidence yet to show how much longer people live with Enhertu compared with trastuzumab emtansine because the clinical trial is still ongoing. This means the cost-effectiveness estimates are highly uncertain and Enhertu cannot be recommended for routine use in the NHS," said NICE. The independent appraisal committee concluded that Enhertu could be cost-effective if further evidence from the ongoing trial and from NHS practice can show how much longer people live with treatment. Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: "Today's draft guidance is good news for people with this type of advanced breast cancer, who often experience severe and debilitating symptoms.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has published the first record from Every Story Matters, bringing together stories from 50,000 people who have shared their experiences of life during the pandemic. Every Story Matters - the largest public engagement exercise ever undertaken by a UK inquiry - has been traveling across the UK to hear from the public since October 2023. These anonymised stories will help produce a themed report, which will help the Chair, Baroness Hallett, to reach conclusions and make recommendations for the future. Ben Connah, Secretary to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, expressed his gratitude for the public's involvement, stating: "This is a remarkable milestone for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and I could not be more grateful to the public for your support and involvement." "This year we have travelled the length and breadth of the UK to listen to people's stories, from Enniskillen to Ipswich, from Oban to Southampton. "Every one of these stories matters and will go on to shape the Chair's recommendations for the future."