GHP July 2017

14 GHP / July 2017 NEWS , The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) announced its rec- ommendation on 12th July, a decision welcomed by Asthma UK. Reslizumab is the latest of a new wave of monoclo- nal antibody treatments designed to treat a specific type of asthma called severe eosinophilic asth- ma. This involves an inflammation of the airways linked to a particular type of white blood cell (eosino- phils) and is one of the most de- bilitating forms of the condition. Of the 5.4 million people living with asthma in the UK, severe asthma has a devastating impact on ap- proximately 250,000 who do not respond to conventional inhalers. This struggle for breath can de- stroy daily lives, causing long New Generation Asthma Drug Gets Approval for NHS Use Asthma UKwelcomes the recommendation to provide a new severe asthma treatment on the NHS and urges its speedy adoption.