NICE has recommended the use of peginterferon alfa in combination with ribavirin to treat chronic hepatitis C in children and young people, in its 300th piece of technology appraisal guidance.Hepatitis C, a blood-borne virus that infects the liver, chronically affects an estimated 200,000 people in England.
People who have injected drugs in the past, or who have been a regular sexual partner with someone with hepatitis C are more at risk than others of having the virus.
However, children of mothers with the disease are also at increased risk, with cases of children newly diagnosed with the virus emerging each year. Figures from the Health Protection Agency show that 26 babies aged under 1 were newly diagnosed with hepatitis C in England in 2011.
In its 300th technology appraisal guidance published today, NICE has approved peginterferon alfa in combination with ribavirin as an option for treating chronic hepatitis C in children and young people.
The independent appraisal Committee decided that treatment with peginterferon alfa has long-term benefits that could potentially last for the lifetime of the child or young person, effectively providing a cure.
The committee also decided that the treatment could provide benefits to parents and carers, such as reducing the guilt burden that is associated with transmission of hepatitis C from mother to baby.
Both peginterferon alfa-2a and peginteferon alfa-2b were determined as more effective and less expensive than best supportive care.
Professor Carole Longson, NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director, said: "The independent Appraisal Committee concluded that treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin can decrease the hepatitis C virus to undetectable levels, effectively providing a cure for the disease.
"Early successful treatment is also likely to lessen the social stigma that can be associated with hepatitis C infection later in life."
She added: "By widening access to these drugs this guidance will give clinicians and people living with hepatitis C more treatment options."
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