An expensive but "game-changing" anti-cholesterol drug could soon be offered to hundreds of thousands of people in England and Wales on the NHS.
NHS England says inclisiran, given as a twice-a-year injection, could save about 30,000 lives within a decade.
It normally costs nearly £2,000 per dose but Novartis, which makes it, has agreed an undisclosed discount.
It can lower bad fat in the blood when other cheaper drugs, like statins, have not done enough, says draft advice.
Medical advances are generally welcome, but the political aspects of 24/7 media health obsessions are interesting too. As if here in the UK, the wider focus of government social policy is changing in ways which nobody ever voted for.
From - a house, a decent job and a decent education.
To - a place to live, universal healthcare and entertainment.
It can lower bad fat in the blood when other cheaper drugs, like statins, have not done enough, says draft advice.
Medical advances are generally welcome, but the political aspects of 24/7 media health obsessions are interesting too. As if here in the UK, the wider focus of government social policy is changing in ways which nobody ever voted for.
From - a house, a decent job and a decent education.
To - a place to live, universal healthcare and entertainment.
6 comments:
I'll give that latest wonder drug a miss. I was put on statins without being asked, gave them a try, suffered the joint pain side-effect. Strangely, not long afterwards I developed rheumatoid arthritis. Me? Cynical?
Jannie - a chap I know is on statins and he is sure his memory has been adversely affected. It was noticeable because he had a particularly good memory.
Also important is the entitlement not to be shocked or upset, or - what is more common, I suspect - the entitlement to be believed when one claims to be shocked or upset.
Sam - yes the second is more common.
On the other hand, wouldn't it be easier and a lot cheaper for people to just improve their diets so they didn't need drugs to control problems primarily caused by bad diets?
Vatsmith - I agree. We see so many people quite obviously damaging their health through a poor diet - usually too many calories but there are probably other issues too.
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