Macular Degeneration

Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on decisions relating to treatment for macular degeneration.

Ann Keen
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published a second Appraisal Consultation Document (ACD) on Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Macugen (pegaptanib) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration. Stakeholders had until 14 January 2008 to provide comments on the ACD and these comments will be considered by NICE’s Appraisal Committee before the guidance is finalised. NICE expects to publish its final guidance later in 2008.

Further detailed information on this appraisal is available on NICE’s website at:

http://guidance.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=207024