UK court to hear Alzheimer's drugs case in June

LONDON, May 9 (Reuters) Drug manufacturers challenging a decision by Britain's cost-effectiveness watchdog to restrict access to Alzheimer's drugs on the state health service will get their day in court next month.

Eisai Co Ltd and Pfizer Inc which jointly market the top-selling such medicine Aricept, said today the High Court had granted a request to fast track the date for a judicial review and the hearing would commence on June 25.

The companies are challenging the process by which the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) reached its decision to ban anti-dementia medicines for National Health Service patients with newly diagnosed mild Alzheimer's disease.

It is the first time that the agency in charge of deciding which medicines are offered in the state health system in England and Wales has faced such legal action.

NICE believes drugs like Aricept do not make enough of a difference to be used at all stages of Alzheimer's disease. In future, it wants them to be prescribed only for a minority of patients with disease of moderate severity.

Anti-cholinesterase drugs such as Aricept can help but not cure some Alzheimer's patients. They are widely used in other countries, but NICE experts calculate that their cost -- around 1,994 dollars per patient a year -- means they are not cost-effective for most patients.

REUTERS SKB VV1531