Six green lights, six red from the SMC

摘要

TWO formulations of budesonide (Budenofalk) have been accepted for use within NHS Scotland in the latest round of Scottish Medicines Consortium appraisals issued on 15 January 2013. A further four drugs were accepted for restricted use, and six were rejected. As gastroresistant capsules, budesonide was accepted for symptomatic relief of chronic diarrhoea due to collagenous colitis. As gastroresistant granules, it was accepted for the induction of remission in patients with active collagenous colitis. The SMC states that the granules offer a once-daily alternative to the three-times a day capsules at no additional cost and may have advantages for patients who have difficulty swallowing.