Health chiefs block asthma drug

Asthma campaigners have condemned a decision not to approve a new drug for use by the NHS in Scotland as "unjust and inhumane". The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) said the economic case for prescribing Xolair had not been made.

It is the second time it has turned down the drug on the same grounds in the past year. Action group Asthma UK said Xolair had proved to be safe and effective in transforming people's lives. The SMC originally rejected the drug in June last year on the grounds of cost.

The consortium estimated that the annual cost of the drug, also known as omalizumab, would be between £3,300 and £20,000.

The chief executive of Asthma UK, Donna Covey, said: "For people with difficult to control asthma who can't get their symptoms under control with existing drugs, Xolair offers the possibility of living free from the fear of a severe asthma attack. This drug is the only hope that some people currently have, and to take it away from them on the grounds of cost is unjust and inhumane."

It is estimated that about 600 sufferers across the country would benefit from Xolair.

The drug was licensed for use in the UK in 2005 and is given as an "add-on therapy" in a fortnightly injection for people with severe asthma.

Maria Murray of Asirus, a support group for people with asthma in rural Scotland, said: "We're not asking for this drug to be made available to everyone but if it can make a difference to a select group of people then surely that is worth the cost?"

About 390,000 people in Scotland receive treatment for asthma, which causes airways to and from the lungs to become narrower and inflamed, making it hard to breathe. A decision on whether to approve Xolair for use by the NHS in England and Wales is due to be made later this year.