Access NICE Guidance No 119 here
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) published advice on this medication for this indication in November 2006:
Fludarabine phosphate (FludaraŽ) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in patients with sufficient bone marrow reserves. First line treatment should only be initiated in patients with advanced disease, Rai stages III/IV (Binet stage C), or Rai stages I/II (Binet stage A/B) where the patient has disease related symptoms or evidence of progressive disease.
Access the relevant SMC advice here
In this case, there is a difference between the NICE STA No 119 and the SMC recommendation.
NHSScotland should note that:
- NHS Boards should continue to adhere to the SMC advice.
- The new NICE single technology appraisal process is being monitored by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, Scottish Executive Health Department and SMC for a period of time. During this period recommendations of NICE STAs will be only for noting by NHS Scotland in the knowledge that SMC have already issued advice on the medicine which NHSScotland should follow.
- Hard copies of NICE appraisals are available from NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (contact Shonagh Buchanan, tel 0141 225 6993 or email shonagh.buchanan@nhshealthquality.org).