Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd announced that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued its final guidance recommending the use of Toctino (alitretinoin) within its licensed indication, as a treatment option for adults with severe chronic hand eczema that has not responded to potent topical corticosteroids.

The NICE Appraisal Committee recognized that Toctino, an innovative therapy shown to be highly effective in phase-III trials, is a cost-effective use of National Health Service (NHS) resources. The final guidance is in line with the Final Appraisal Determination issued in July this year.

"We welcome the publication of NICE's positive final guidance. It confirms the value Toctino brings to patients and the healthcare community," said Dr. Anthony Man, CEO, Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. "This decision will allow access to Toctino across England and Wales by patients suffering from severe chronic hand eczema."

The NHS will fund Toctino for patients with severe disease, as defined by the physician's global assessment and a dermatology life quality index score of 15 or more. It is stated that NHS must provide funding and resources within three months of the final guidance being published.

In March of this year the Scottish Medicine's Consortium accepted Toctino for use within the NHS Scotland.

Toctino (alitretinoin) is the only therapy approved for severe refractory chronic hand eczema.

Basilea Pharmaceutica's integrated research and development operations are currently focused on new antibacterial, antifungal and oncology agents to fight drug resistance and on the development of dermatology drugs.