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NICE News

Bringing you our latest news, features and guidance.

January 2022

Guidance and advice published in January 2022

COVID-19 | News | Into practice | Get involved | Announcements

COVID-19

Updates to managing COVID-19 guideline

We have added new recommendations to our rapid guideline on managing COVID-19. These cover:

COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis.

We also added a statement about the Omicron variant to the recommendation on casirivimab and imdevimab.

We are continuously updating our COVID-19 guidelines to incorporate the latest evidence and keep abreast of new developments in diagnosing and treating COVID-19. We’ll highlight recent updates in this monthly email communication, or you can keep up to date on the latest live changes through our website.

News

Generic illustration of a magnifying glass

We’re changing the way we evaluate medicines and health technologies

Following extensive consultation with health system partners, industry, healthcare professionals, academia and patients, we’re changing how topics are chosen (topic selection), the steps and stages in each evaluation (processes), and how evidence is collected and considered (methods) when assessing new medicines and other health technology products intended for use in the NHS. The changes will give patients earlier access to innovative new treatments by allowing greater flexibility over decisions about value for money and consideration of a broader evidence base. This new approach will come into effect for new submissions to NICE from 1 February.

Pill for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV

Offer PrEP to people at high risk of HIV

In our new draft guideline on reducing sexually transmitted infections, we recommend that people at the highest risk of catching HIV should be offered Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) routinely. Evidence from the UK PROUD study reported that PrEP reduced the risk of HIV infection by 86% for men who have sex with men. People who are taking PrEP must also be supported to get regular HIV tests and STI screening every 3 months. Our recommendation is backed up by the government’s HIV Action Plan to hit zero new transmissions of HIV by 2030.

A public consultation is open until Monday 31 January 2022.

Girl looking at a peanut in the foreground

New peanut allergy treatment to benefit children and young people

We’ve recommended Palforzia, a new treatment which can help build up tolerance to peanut, in new draft guidance. It works by gradually increasing the body’s ability to tolerate small amounts of peanut and can help reduce the severity of allergic reactions. When people start taking Palforzia, they need to attend a clinic which is able to treat anaphylaxis. If successful, people will then be able to up their dosing but will still need to attend a clinic each time the dose is raised.

A girl during session with a psychotherapist

Self-harm is everyone’s business

Our new draft guideline on self-harm, the first for 11 years, sets out the responsibilities of non-specialists when caring for people who self-harm. This includes health and social care professionals working in primary care, non-mental health emergency department professionals, those working in general hospital settings and in social care. There are also recommendations for paramedics and for people working in education and criminal justice settings.

A public consultation is open until Tuesday 1 March 2022.

Catch up on our latest news

Changes to our methods and processes for health technology evaluation

In this episode of our NICE Talks podcast, we speak with Helen Knight, programme director in NICE’s Centre for Health Technology Evaluation, and Dr Jane Adam, chair of one of our independent appraisal committees. They discuss what our changes mean for patients, the NHS and industry.

Into practice

Progress in improving arthritis treatment

Our latest impact report focuses on the treatment of arthritis. The report shows how reductions in the price of some medicines for arthritis have allowed us to recommend expanded access to transformative treatments. The report also highlights progress in reducing the time between referral and starting treatment for people with inflammatory arthritis.

Read arthritis impact report

Get involved

Comment on a consultation

Our current consultations include:

Reducing sexually transmitted infections
Submit your comments by Monday 31 January 2022.
Gout: diagnosis and management
Submit your comments by Wednesday 2 February 2022.
Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification
Submit your comments by Tuesday 8 February 2022.
Diabetic retinopathy
Submit your comments by Tuesday 15 February 2022.
Social, emotional and mental wellbeing in primary and secondary education
Submit your comments by Friday 25 February 2022.
Self harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence
Submit your comments by Tuesday 1 March 2022.

Consultation is a key part of our guidance development process. It enables those with an interest in our guidance to comment at specific stages and feedback into the decision-making process.

See all our open consultations

Join a committee

We have a number of vacancies for health professionals and lay people to join our committees. Topics include cardiovascular disease, diabetic retinopathy and maternal and child nutrition. Join us and have an active role in producing a guideline or quality standard.

See all our committee vacancies

Observe a meeting

We’re currently holding all our public meetings virtually. You'll need to register in advance to join.

Upcoming public meeting:

Friday 18 February 2022 – Medical technologies advisory committee
Registration opens Friday 28 January and closes Friday 11 February 2022.
Agenda and register

Our advisory committee meetings, technology appraisal appeal hearings and public board meetings are open to the public. Holding them in public supports our commitment to having processes in place that are rigorous, open, and transparent.

See all our public meetings

Announcements

Withdrawal of key therapeutic topics

We are withdrawing our medicines optimisation: key therapeutic topics on 9 February 2022.

This decision has been taken after reviewing the wide range of services we currently provide, so that we can focus on delivering the priorities outlined in our 5-year strategy.

If you have any queries, please contact nice@nice.org.uk.

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