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NICE Issues Guidance on the Use of Febuxostat for Hyperuricaemia
LONDON -- December 17, 2008 -- The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidance as part of its rapid single technology appraisal (STA) work programme on the use of febuxostat for the management of hyperuricaemia in people with gout.
The guidance recommends the use of febuxostat as an option for the management of chronic hyperuricaemia in gout for people who are intolerant of allopurinol or for whom allopurinol is contraindicated.
Intolerance of allopurinol is defined as adverse effects that are sufficiently severe to warrant its discontinuation, or to prevent full dose escalation for optimal effectiveness as appropriate within its marketing authorisation.
"Gout is generally acknowledged as being one of the most painful forms of arthritis and about 1.5% of the UK population currently suffers from the condition," said executive lead of the guidance Andrew Dillon, NICE, London, United Kingdom.
"The independent Committee carefully considered the evidence and concluded that febuxostat represents an important new option for patients who suffer the debilitating effects of gout but for whom the current standard treatment is not appropriate."
The complete guidance is available at: http://www.nice.org.uk/TA164
SOURCE: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
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