An estimated 25,000 patients with visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (VI-DMO) could be eligible for treatment with Novartis' Lucentis drug following a decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Patients with VI-DMO who have more extensive swelling of the retina, specifically those with a retinal thickness in the eye of 400 micrometres will receive the treatment.
Novartis said until now, many people with the condition have had to face the possibility of irreversible sight loss, as for 25 years treatment has been limited to laser therapy. The company added that the NHS would also benefit from immediate and significant cost savings.
Ben Burton, consultant ophthalmologist at the James Paget University Hospital, welcomed the decision.
'Granting access to ranibizumab for patients with VI-DMO, who face the very real prospect of permanently losing their vision, is great news,' he said. 'Until now, most patients could only receive laser treatment on the NHS, which usually just stops their vision worsening, but does not necessarily improve it.
'We have been able to use ranibizumab to treat people with wet age-related macular degeneration since 2007 and have seen good patient outcomes in this disease. Now that the drug has been approved for VI-DMO I look forward to seeing improved outcomes for people with this condition.'
NICE's final guidance on ranibizumab for the treatment of VI-DMO is expected in the coming months.