National medicines authority INFARMED has been accused of denying patients innovative treatment for early onset Multiple Sclerosis.
Ocrelizumab has been described on medical forums as a new milestone in multiple sclerosis therapy. But although it has been approved for use by the European Medicines Agency, INFARMED has not yet done so.
Thus aside from the few patients put forward to test the medication during its evaluation period, sufferers here are in limbo.
Explains Susana Protásio of the Multiple Sclerosis Society there simply is no other drug available for what is called “Primary Progressive” MS.
Tabloid Correio da Manhã has taken the issue up after being contacted by a 43-year-old man whose specialist has twice been refused permission to get treatment sanctioned for her patient.
The doctor believes that Ocrelizumab would help the sales technician, but INFARMED disagrees saying his condition is too far advanced to benefit from the two free doses it could otherwise release.
The drug, once it has to start being paid for, will cost the SNS health service €24,000 per year per patient, explains CM.
Sixty patients have been put forwards for ‘free’ pre-evaluation treatments but only 42 have received them.
INFARMED has told CM that it will not pronounce on individual cases.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
