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More than a month after its official approval in the European Union – two UK newspapers have raised awareness of the availability of ivabradine to treat heart failure.
The treatment, which has been indicated for treatment of stable angina since 2006, is now approved for use in a subset (15%) of heart failure patients – those whose heart beats at least 75 beats per minute, are in sinus rhythm and are best managed with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and
Dr Martin Cowie, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK, and current Chair of the British Society of Heart Failure told heartwire that the low cost of ivabradine will likely mean doctors prescribe it within its indication before the UK drug evaluation body – the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence – considers its cost-effectiveness, which is anticipated by December 2012.
He said: “It’s only £40 a month [in the UK]… It’s not going to be something [GPs] push back on very much at all.”
