Is Opzelura available in the UK?

Last updated: 18 June 2024

Is Opzelura available in the UK?

You can legally access new medicines, even if they are not approved in your country.

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After its EMA approval in April 2023, Opzelura (ruxolitinib) was also granted marketing authorization by the MHRA in the UK in July 2023 1,2. This was an important milestone in vitiligo treatment, as Opzelura is the first and only approved non-segmental vitiligo medicine for skin repigmentation. 

However, patients eager to start treatment with Opzelura in the UK may need a bit more patience. It can still take some time before a final decision on including the medicine on the NHS is made.

Is Opzelura (ruxolitinib) available in the UK?

Opzelura has been approved in the UK since August 2023 and is now available on the UK market.

However, as of June 2024, Opzelura is not available on the NHS. NICE is still evaluating the medicine, and a final decision is expected in August 2024. According to NICE"s draft guidance, published in January 2024, they do not recommend Opzelura for inclusion on the NHS. However, this decision is still subject to change.  

When will Opzelura be on the UK market?

Opzelura is already available on the UK market, though at your own expense. If your treating doctor or dermatologist believe that treatment with the medicine is suitable for you, you can get the medicine with a prescription.

In case your treatment can be delayed by a few months, it may be worthwhile waiting until August, when NICE will announce its decision on offering Opzelura on the NHS. If positive, this can save you some medical costs. 

Opzelura

What can you do until Opzelura is available in the UK?

If you're a vitiligo patient outside the UK and your doctor recommends treatment with Opzelura, you're probably wondering about your options. Can you use Jakavi instead of Opzelura in the meantime? Or, should you accept the frustrating wait? The good news is, you don't have to. 

When a medicine is unapproved in a patient's country, or it's approved but not yet available, you can access it via the Named Patient Import regulation. 

Everyone.org is specialized in helping people access the latest medicines via this regulation. If you have a prescription from your treating doctor for Opzelura, you're impatient to start your treatment plan, and would like us to help you access the medicine immediately, contact us. 

 

 

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References:

  1. Opzelura. MHRA, Accessed 22 August 2023.
  2. Opzelura | European Medicines Agency. European Medicines Agency, 24 February 2023.
  3. Ewbank, Leo. Access to new medicines in the English NHS. The King's Fund, 28 October 2020.