Review of NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance for Hepatitis B: 

1.    adefovir dipivoxil and peginterferon alfa-2a for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (TA96)

2.    entecavir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (TA153)

3.    telbivudine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (TA154)

Further to our letter of 24 April 2009, we would like to update you on the decision made regarding the review of the guidance on Hepatitis B. The Institute was proposing that due to ongoing clinical trials, we would consider again, whether or not to update these guidance in March 2010.

During consultation, it was highlighted to us that the proposal might not be the best way to proceed with the review. After consideration of all these comments, the Institute’s Guidance Executive has decided to recommend that the decision whether or not to update these guidance should be deferred until March 2012, pending publication of the results of ongoing trials.

• A link to the summary of the responses from this consultation.