Scottish Lucentis use widened

Treating visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to CRVO with Lucentis (ranibizumab) has been approved in Scotland.

Manufacturer Novartis Pharmaceuticals announced that the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) had deemed it cost-effective for use in appropriate patients on the Scottish National Health Service (NHS).

The same treatment was also under review for use within the NHS in England and Wales, Novartis said.

Dr Peter Cackett, Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Edinburgh, said: 'Clinicians in Scotland have considerable experience of using ranibizumab, as we have been using it for some time to treat appropriate patients with wet AMD, where it has been found to be very effective. We also know it is generally well tolerated by patients.'