Moray MP Douglas Ross is calling on therapeutics company Aimmune to clarify when they will be making a further submission to the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) over the use of the drug Palforzia in Scotland’s NHS.
Douglas’ call comes after he was contacted by disappointed constituents of a young child with a peanut allergy. He had written on their behalf to both NHS Grampian and the SNP Government about the availability of Palforzia on the NHS.
However, NHS Grampian responded to Douglas saying the drug was not recommended for use by the SMC in October 2022 for those patients between the ages of four and 17 with a confirmed peanut allergy.
NHS Grampian told Douglas that Aimmune did not provide a sufficiently robust economic analysis to gain approval.
However, the drug has been available for use in NHS England since December 2021, and the company are intending to make a resubmission to the SMC.
Douglas is now urging Aimmune to confirm when their new case will be submitted to the SMC so he can inform the worried parents of his young constituent.
He says that every day that they know this drug has not been approved for use in NHS Scotland will be causing them “huge anxiety.”
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “I hope Aimmune will urgently be able to confirm when they will be resubmitting their case for this drug to be approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.
“I know my constituents are deeply disappointed it has been refused, especially when it is available for use in NHS England.
“Every additional day that this drug is not available to help their child with their peanut allergy is causing them huge anxiety and as a parent myself, my heart goes out to them.
“Given the previous refusal was in October 2022, I would hope that the case is ready to be resubmitted as soon as possible. I will continue to liaise closely with my constituents and push for the best outcome for them to occur.”