The Dutch Ministry of Health (Ministerie Van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport) Approves Reimbursement of XIFAXAN® 550

LONDON, June 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Norgine B.V. today announced that the Ministry of Health in the Netherlands, Ministry van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport, has approved the reimbursement of XIFAXAN^® 550 (rifaximin-α 550mg) when added to lactulose, for prophylaxis of the 3rd and following episodes of overt hepatic encephalopathy in patients ≥ 18 years. The reimbursement approval is effective from 1 July 2016.^[1] Hepatic encephalopathy is a potentially life-threatening neuropsychiatric condition associated with chronic liver disease.

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There is currently no cure for hepatic encephalopathy apart from liver transplantation.

Peter Martin, Chief Operating Officer, Norgine said: "We know that hepatic encephalopathy has a huge impact on the lives of patients, their families and carers and healthcare  systems. This decision further demonstrates the value of XIFAXAN^® 550 by reducing the recurrence of episodes of hepatic encephalopathy which ultimately can help decrease the cost of care for these patients."

XIFAXAN^® 550 is reimbursed in Australia, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales.

It is estimated that 500,000 people in Europe are living with advanced chronic liver disease, of which 40% will go on to develop hepatic encephalopathy. ^[2],[3]

Norgine currently holds marketing rights for XIFAXAN^® 550mg (known as TARGAXAN^[®▼] 550 in the UK and some other markets) in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, United Kingdom and Switzerland. Norgine and Alfa Wassermann co-promote the product under the TIXTAR^® brand name in France.

 

(1) Ministry van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport final decision for rifaximin-α 550mg: 14 June 2016

(2) European association for the study of the liver, The burden of liver disease in Europe: A review of available epidemiological data, 2013

(3) American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; European Association for the Study of the Liver. Hepatic Encephalopathy in chronic liver diease: 2014 practice guideline by the European Association for the Study of the Liver and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. J Hepatol. 2014;61(3):642-59

 

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