NICE denies Cordis appeal
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
The United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence denies Johnson & Johnson/Cordis' appeal of its Feb. 1 recommendation that the National Health Service only cover drug-eluting coronary stents if the device costs no more than £300 ($597) more than a comparable bare-metal stent (1"The Gray Sheet" Feb. 4, 2008, p. 10). 2In a decision released July 23, NICE's appeals panel, which met in April, discounts Cordis' arguments, concluding that NICE's recommendation does not exceed its legal powers or violate its established procedures and is consistent with the scientific evidence. There is no possibility of further appeal within NICE, but interested parties can seek permission form the High Court to apply for judicial review within three months, the panel writes. The denial of the appeal coincides with NICE's re-release of its 3final guidance on drug-eluting coronary stents outlining its recommendations