Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care

Added benefit of saxagliptin/metformin combination is not proven

The fixed combination of the drugs saxagliptin and metformin (Komboglyze) has been approved in Germany since November 2011 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the "Act ...

Medications created Apr 29, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Added benefit of Cannabis sativa for spasticity due to multiple sclerosis is not proven

An extract from the plant Cannabis sativa (trade name Sativex) was approved in May 2011 for patients suffering from moderate to severe spastic paralysis and muscle spasms due to multiple sclerosis (MS). In an early benefi ...

Medications created Sep 17, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Proof of added benefit of apixaban in hip replacement

The clot-inhibiting drug apixaban (trade name: Eliquis) was approved in May 2011 for the prevention of thrombosis (blood clots) after operations to replace a hip or knee joint. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the ...

Medications created Sep 17, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Added benefit of aclidinium bromide is not proven

The drug aclidinium bromide (trade names Eklira, Bretaris) has been approved since October 2012 for widening the narrowed airways of adults with chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The German Institute for Quality ...

Medications created Jan 30, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Telaprevir: Added benefit in certain patients with hepatitis C

The drug telaprevir (trade name: Incivo) has been available for treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection of genotype 1 since autumn 2011. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the "Act on the Reform of the Market for ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Sep 05, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Tafamidis: Approval denotes proven added benefit

Tafamidis meglumine (trade name: Vyndaqel) was approved in November 2011 for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis in adults. This rare disorder ("orphan disease") is caused by a defective gene and is associated with ...

Medications created Sep 17, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Considerable added benefit of ipilimumab in advanced melanoma

The humanized antibody ipilimumab (trade name Yervoy) has been approved since August 2011 for the treatment of adult patients with advanced melanoma (black skin cancer) who have already been treated. The term "advanced" means ...

Cancer created Nov 09, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Linagliptin: Once again, no proof of added benefit

Linagliptin (trade name Trajenta) has been approved since August 2011 to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes. The assessment of the new dossier according to the German Act on the Reform of the Market ...

Medications created Jan 30, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Belatacept after a kidney transplant: Minor added benefit for certain patients

Belatacept (trade name Nulojix) has been approved since June 2011 to prevent a rejection reaction of the body to the donor organ (transplant) in adults who have received a kidney transplant. The Institute for Quality and ...

Medications created Nov 09, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Perampanel for epilepsy: No proof of added benefit

The drug perampanel (trade name Fycompa) has been approved since July 2012 as adjunctive ("add-on") therapy for adults and children aged 12 years and older with epileptic fits (seizures). In an early benefit assessment according ...

Medications created Jan 30, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Vandetanib in thyroid cancer: No proof of added benefit

Vandetanib (trade name Caprelsa) has been approved in Germany since February 2012 for adult patients suffering from a particular form of aggressive thyroid cancer. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health ...

Cancer created Nov 09, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Benefit of PET or PET/CT in bone and soft tissue tumors is not proven

For patients with bone and soft tissue tumours, the study data currently available allow no robust conclusions as to the advantages and disadvantages of using positron emission tomography (PET), alone or in combination with ...

Cancer created Mar 07, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Belimumab for lupus erythematosus: Added benefit not proven

Belimumab (trade name Benlysta) has been approved since July 2011 as an add-on therapy for adult patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This monoclonal antibody is only considered as treatment ...

Cancer created Aug 29, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Obesity in type 2 diabetes: Recommendations from guidelines are largely consistent

On 10th July 2012, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) published the results of a literature search for evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of obesity in type 2 diabetes. The aim ...

Diabetes created Jul 30, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Added benefit of fampridine is not proven

Fampridine (trade name Fampyra) has been approved in Germany since July 2011 for adult patients suffering from a higher grade walking disability (grades 4 to 7 on the EDSS disability status scale), as a result of multiple ...

Medications created Aug 29, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0