22 May 2013 - 22 May 2013 - UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said today it had recommended Swiss Novartis' (VTX:NOVN) drug Lucentis (ranibizumab) as a therapy of sight problems caused by macular oedema.

This final guidance was issued regarding the treatment of macular oedema caused by retinal vein occlusion (RVO) where the vein to the retina or one of its branches is blocked (central or branch retinal vein occlusion).

The agency noted its recommendation is valid only if Novartis makes ranibizumab available under terms agreed with the Department of Health as part of a patient access scheme.