Responding to the news that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have approved the use of nintedanib for a wider range of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF):
Henry Gregg, Chair of the Taskforce for Lung Health and Director of External Affairs at Asthma + Lung UK, said:
“We’re delighted NICE will be increasing access to nintedanib, to support people with the debilitating lung condition idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This drug has been shown to slow the progression of IPF, which currently has no known cure. Previously, nintedanib was not available to those in the earlier stage of disease. The lung capacity set range has now been extended, so those in the earlier stages of disease who weren’t eligible before, can get access to the drug.
“Currently in the UK, more than 32,000 people have IPF, which can be extremely mentally and physically challenging to live with, with symptoms such as breathlessness and fatigue. There are few medicines available to slow the progression of the disease, so this decision offers a beacon of hope to more people who could now benefit.”