NICE expands guidance for lokelma in adult patients with persistent hyperkalaemia
pharmafile | January 24, 2022 | News story | Sales and Marketing |
NICE have updated the Technology Appraisal Guidance (TAG) for Lokelma (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate SZC) in the treatment of adult patients with hyperkalaemia in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Access to SZC for the treatment of persistent hyperkalaemia is no longer restricted to hospital use only, allowing continuity of care for patients through management in a primary care setting.
As part of this expanded guidance, NICE recommend SZC as an option for treating hyperkalaemia in adults if used for people with persistent hyperkalaemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3b to 5 or heart failure (HF). The treatment should be administered if they: have a confirmed serum potassium level of at least 6.0 mmol/litre, and due to hyperkalaemia are not taking an optimised dosage of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASi), and are not on dialysis.
Prior to the NICE guidance, patients were only able to access SZC through prescription by a specialist in secondary care, despite a significant need for management after leaving hospital due to the presence of associated comorbidities.
Hyperkalaemia is a condition in which a patient’s blood potassium levels are elevated. In some extreme cases, this can lead to cardiac arrest and death.
Professor Zaheer Yousef, Consultant Cardiologist, University hospital of Wales & Cardiff University, commented on this development: “Hyperkalaemia can develop not only from living with heart failure and chronic kidney disease, but from the medicines that help treat those conditions. For a long time, HCPs have been in the difficult position of having to choose between managing potassium levels and optimising key therapies that can improve outcomes for these patients.
“This guidance update is therefore welcome news and will hugely benefit people who have hyperkalaemia, as it will reduce the need for them to come into hospital for repeat prescriptions and gives clinicians the facility to further optimise their care. This change will also allow us to develop more robust pathways between secondary and primary care, ensuring continuity of care outside of hospital, particularly at a time when reducing health service burden has never been more critical.”
Lina Adams
