Jetrea recommended for reimbursement in the UK

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended reimbursement for Jetrea (ocriplasmin) for treating a broad range of patients with vitreomacular traction.

Jetrea is recommended for patients with vitreomacular traction and full-thickness macular holes up to 400 µm in diameter in the absence of epiretinal membrane. Additionally, the final ruling recommends treatment for patients with early symptoms, such as metamorphopsia.

Approved in the European Union in March, Alcon launched sales in the UK, its first market in Europe, in April.

“This outcome marks the start of a paradigm shift in treatment as it means that physicians will be able to use the first and only pharmacological option to proactively treat this progressive disease much earlier and as soon as patients start experiencing symptoms, such as metamorphopsia,” said Dr Patrik De Haes, CEO of Jetra’s manufacturer ThromboGenics. “NICE’s view that metamorphopsia is a ‘severe and distressing’ symptom and that early treatment with Jetrea should be reimbursed is in line with our own view that this novel drug delivers significant clinical and quality of life benefits to patients with VMT.”