Blow For Pfizer As UK's NICE Rejects Oxbryta For Sickle Cell Disease

Oxbryta is a highly lauded, first-in-class treatment for sickle cell anemia, a serious and lifelong health condition that can cause pain, infections, organ damage and strokes. But preliminary draft guidance from England’s HTA body says the product is not an acceptable use of National Health Service resources.

Sickle cell anemia disease (SCD) blood cells 3D illustration
Sickle cell disease can cause life-threatening conditions • Source: Shutterstock

The health technology assessment institute, NICE, has recommended against the routine use of Oxbryta (voxelotor) for hemolytic anemia caused by sickle cell disease on the National Health Service in England. Pfizer acquired Oxbryta when it bought the US firm Global Blood Therapeutics in October last year. 

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