Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) accepts Camzyos®▼(mavacamten) for use on the NHS as an adjunct treatment option for adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) accepts Camzyos^®▼(mavacamten) for use on the NHS as an adjunct treatment option for adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

• Mavacamten has been accepted for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of symptomatic (New York Heart Association, NYHA, class II to III) obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in adult patients.[i]
• HCM is the most common inherited heart condition, affecting 1 in 500 people in the UK.[ii]

(Uxbridge, Middlesex 8^th April 2024) – Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) today announced that the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted a first-in-class, oral medication called Camzyos^® (mavacamten) for use on the NHS in Scotland to treat obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.1^,[iii] It has been recommended as an adjunct to individually optimised standard care, where standard care comprises either non-vasodilating beta blockers or non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers as monotherapy.

Commenting on the news, Marc Dweck, Professor of Clinical Cardiology, University of Edinburgh said: “A diagnosis of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can have a major impact on quality of life for patients with this condition. The acceptance of mavacamten now allows eligible Scottish patients to access the first licensed treatment option to target an underlying cause of the disease, offering the potential for better symptom management and an improvement in quality of life.”

Obstructive HCM is a heart condition characterised by the abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, making it harder for it to pump blood around the body.2 This can lead to symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, and fatigue, which can be debilitating for those who experience them.2^,[iv]

Joel Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Cardiomyopathy UK (CMUK) commented: “For people who experience symptoms of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, everyday life can be impacted, and daily activities that we sometimes take for granted can become a challenge. Today’s news provides assurance that the latest advances are now accessible for those who need them. We believe that everyone affected by obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy deserves to live well, and we hope that this treatment option supports eligible patients.”

Whilst some individuals with obstructive HCM may never experience symptoms, many others experience symptoms that can vary in severity.4 The symptoms of obstructive HCM are often non-specific and may resemble signs of other health conditions.[v]

Guy Oliver, General Manager, Bristol Myers Squibb, UK & Ireland commented: "I am delighted by this recommendation from the Scottish Medicines Consortium, and the positive impact this news may have on eligible adults living with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Today’s decision marks an important step towards ensuring equitable access to mavacamten in the UK. Now, patients across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales may benefit from this new treatment option.”

ENDS

[i] Scottish Medicines Consortium. Mavacamten product update SMC2618.

[ii] Cardiomyopathy UK, 2022. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy factsheet. Available at: https://www.cardiomyopathy.org/sites/default/files/2022-02/Hypertrophic%20cardiomyopathy%20factsheet%20January%202022.pdf. Accessed April 2024.

[iii] Olivotto I, et al., 2020. Mavacamten for treatment of symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (EXPLORER-HCM): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 396(10253), pp.759-769. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31792-X/abstract. Accessed: April 2024.

[iv] British Heart Foundation, 2021. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/cardiomyopathy/hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy. Accessed April 2024.

[v] Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association. Patient Support. Available at: https://4hcm.org/hcm-symptoms/#:~:text=HCM%20is%20often%20misdiagnosed%20as,a%20common%20symptom%20of%20HCM. Accessed April 2024.