Scottish Medicines Consortium approves five new medicines

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), which reviews newly licensed medicines, has published advice that includes five new medicines accepted for use in NHS Scotland. The recommendation includes treatments for thyroid cancer, Crohn’s disease and a new antibiotic for pneumonia. Two of the medicines, sorafenib (Nexavar), used to treat thyroid cancer, and riociguat (Adempas), which is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, were accepted after consideration under the SMC’s PACE (Patient and Clinician Engagement) process. This aims to improve patient access to new medicines for the treatment of end of life and very rare conditions. Sorafenib is used to treat an