The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has provisionally approved NHS use of Nintedanib for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with an FVC of above 80%. Current NICE funding approval allows the prescribing of antifibrotic treatment (both Nintedanib and Pirfenidone) for patients with IPF who have an FVC between 50 and 80%.
This is welcome news from NICE for patients with IPF with an FVC over 80% and could mean over 5,200 further patients would be eligible for treatment with Nintedanib. Antifibrotics have the capability to delay disease progression and extend life in progressive fibrotic lung diseases.
If there are no appeals to this decision specialist centres will be able to prescribe Nintedanib to patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis with an FVC above 80%. ARNS is looking forward to the publication of the final guidance, due in February 2023 and of course will keep our members updated.