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Dabigatran Approved By SMC For AF Patients

Dabigatran etexilate has been accepted for use within the NHS in Scotland for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in adults with atrial fibrillation.

In its latest round of appraisals, the Scottish Medicines Consortium approved the drug, which is marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim as Pradaxa, because studies suggest it prevents stroke as well as warfarin does, offers "reasonable value for money" and, since patients do not require blood monitoring, may allow service improvements to be made.

According to the SMC’s calculations, £200 would be saved in INR monitoring costs for every patient switched from warfarin to dabigatran.

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Extract taken from PJ Online