NICE Endorses Boehringer's Tenecteplase for NHS Stroke Treatment

The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has officially endorsed Boehringer Ingelheim’s medication, tenecteplase, sold under the brand name Metalyse, as a suitable treatment for adult patients experiencing acute ischaemic stroke. This approval is set to be implemented within the National Health Service (NHS).

The endorsement is expected to bring considerable financial relief to the NHS, primarily due to the cost-effectiveness of tenecteplase compared to alteplase, another commonly used thrombolytic agent. Clinical trials have validated that tenecteplase is equally efficacious as alteplase in dissolving blood clots and preventing new ones from forming post-stroke.

One of the major benefits of tenecteplase is its economic advantage, which could result in substantial cost savings for the NHS. When administered within four and a half hours of stroke symptom onset, tenecteplase works by activating the production of plasmin, an enzyme critical for breaking down clots. This enzymatic action is essential for restoring proper blood flow in arteries obstructed by clots.

The medication is delivered intravenously and received its licensing in the UK for the treatment of ischaemic stroke in April 2024. Ischaemic strokes, which account for 85% of all stroke cases, occur when a blood clot obstructs the brain’s blood supply. This interruption in blood flow deprives brain cells of oxygen, leading to cell damage or death and the subsequent onset of stroke symptoms.

In England alone, approximately 100,000 people are hospitalized each year due to strokes, with the majority suffering from ischaemic strokes. The long-term effects of strokes mean that around one million individuals in the country live with the consequences of such events.

Helen Knight, the Director of Medicines Evaluation at NICE, emphasized the significance of this development. She stated, “We know that stroke is one of the biggest killers and causes of disability, therefore it is important that patients receive treatments that can help to reduce the effects of a stroke as quickly as possible. The guidance means that not only will people who have had an ischaemic stroke be able to access a new treatment option, but the NHS could save millions by switching to it, making it a very effective use of taxpayers’ money.”

In summary, the NICE endorsement of tenecteplase for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke is a significant advancement in stroke care within the NHS. The medication’s effectiveness in clot dissolution and its cost-saving potential represent important milestones in improving patient outcomes and optimizing healthcare resources.