Scottish health agency approves NSAID for postop macular edema reduction

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has recommended use of Alcon's Nevanac for reduction of postoperative macular edema in diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Nepafenac is also licensed for the prevention and treatment of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery.

Its approval for postop macular edema reduction was based on a prospective, randomized study of more than 200 subjects treated with either 1mg/mL (one drop three times daily) or vehicle eye drops (one drop three times daily) starting on the day prior to surgery and continuing for 90 days after surgery.

The proportion of patients who developed macular edema was significantly lower in the nepafenac group (3.2 percent [4/125]) than in the vehicle group (17 percent [21/126]) (p<0.001).

The SMC advises the Scottish National Health Service and Area Drug and Therapeutic Committees on all newly licensed medicines to ensure that patients who could benefit can get access to the medicine as quickly as possible.