Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ask the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to review the evidence behind its initial decision to reject siponimod for routine use to treat active secondary multiple sclerosis.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) follows established methods and processes when developing its technology appraisals guidance and only publishes final guidance on the use of a drug after careful consideration of the evidence and consultation with stakeholders.
The appraisal consultation document (ACD) on siponimod for treating secondary progressive multiple sclerosis is draft guidance and is currently subject to public consultation, allowing stakeholders and individuals to comment on the draft guidance so that their views can be taken into account. The ACD is not NICE's final guidance on a technology and the recommendations may change after consultation.
The consultation has been running from 25 June to 5pm on 23 July 2020. The consultation can be found at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta10436/consultation/html-content-2