Osteoporosis - primary prevention: Memo to consultees and commentators
Dear Consultees and Commentator,
Health Technology Appraisals
Alendronate, etidronate, risedronate, raloxifene and strontium ranelate for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women
And
Alendronate, etidronate, risedronate, raloxifene, strontium ranelate and teriparatide for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women
As you are aware, the Appraisal Committee met to consider the above appraisals on Wednesday 7 February 2007. At this meeting the Committee discussed the responses to the consultation on the Appraisal Consultation Document for secondary prevention as well as the Guideline Development Group's (GDG) response to the outcome of the November 2006 meeting for primary prevention.
On reviewing the response of the GDG, and the comments from consultation, the Appraisal Committee decided to seek the opportunity to strengthen the link between the recommendations made in the technology appraisals and those of the future clinical guideline. In doing this the Appraisal Committee focussed its preliminary recommendations for both technology appraisals on 'initiation of therapy'. The NICE clinical guideline on osteoporosis will cover the treatment of women who have withdrawn from initial treatment.
These preliminary recommendations constitute a significant change to the preliminary recommendations of 2006 and as a consequence the Institute is now issuing two Appraisal Consultation Documents (ACDs). The Appraisal Committee will discuss your comments on these ACDs in its next meeting which is planned for 11 April 2007.
I know that you will be disappointed with this extension of the timeline for these technology appraisals, but I hope you agree that the way forward outlined above will enable the development of a complete set of guidance which in the end will be more appropriate for the NHS.
As previously stated the Institute cannot make available the economic model for this appraisal as it contains information designated as academic in confidence. However, we do have spreadsheets of results for the model available upon request from the Project Manager (see details below).
Thank you again for your input into this appraisal; if you have any questions or queries, please contact Mr Reetan Patel, Technology Appraisal Project Manager (email: reetan.patel@nice.org.uk or tel: 020 7067 5946).
Yours sincerely
Dr Carole Longson
Director Centre for Health Technology Evaluation
23 February 2007
This page was last updated: 30 March 2010