COPD drug indacaterol cleared for use in NHS Scotland

Indacaterol (Onbrez Breez-haler) has been accepted for use as maintenance bronchodilator treatment of airflow obstruction in adults with COPD, the SMC said.

The consortium also accepted dutasteride plus tamsulosin (Combodart) for treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and for cutting the risk of acute urinary retention and surgery in patients with moderate to severe symptoms of BPH.

The SMC did not accept betamethasone valerate medicated plaster (Betesil) for the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders which do not respond less potent corticosteroid treatment. The consortium said that Betesil’s manufacturer had not submitted a sufficiently robust economic analysis.