UK's first emergency appeal to challenge NICE

The charity is urgently calling for public donations to help fight a decision to deny treatments to people in the early and late stages of Alzheimer's disease.

The Alzheimer's Society strongly believes the process used by NICE to reach its decision was fundamentally flawed. NICE acknowledge the drugs work but say they are too expensive at £2.50 per person, per day.

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society says:

'To save the price of a cup of coffee, NICE is snatching time and quality of life from thousands of vulnerable people who will learn they have this devastating disease this year. NICE does not think that quality of life for people with dementia is worth £2.50. Show that you do, support our emergency appeal today. Donations will ensure the voice of vulnerable people is heard in court.'

Diana Barnes, a person with Alzheimer's disease, says:

'When I first started to take a drug treatment for Alzheimer's disease it was like a fog in my head had been lifted. I still have good days and bad days, but the drugs have made a real difference. I know the drugs have improved my quality of life. It seems madness to take away things that are helping people like me to live as normally as possible. They talk about money, but these drugs only cost £2.50 a day.'

This is the first time a decision by NICE has been challenged in court. Earlier this month the Alzheimer's Society announced its intention to represent people with dementia and carers in a judicial review of the process. Permission for the judicial review to proceed and a date for an appeal hearing are yet to be announced.

For more information, contact Hannah Clack, Alzheimer's Society press office.

Notes for editor

• People can donate to the appeal by calling the Alzheimer's Society donation hotline on 0845 306 0898.
• Advertisements placed in national newspapers across the UK today will call for donations from the public to help raise the legal costs of the campaign. For a copy of the advertisement please contact 020 7423 3595 or email press@alzheimers.org.uk.
• Interviews with spokespeople and case studies are available on request.
• NICE has recommended that Alzheimer's drugs only be made available to people in the moderate stages of the disease.
• The guidance will not affect people already being prescribed the drug treatments.
• Eisai and Pfizer are bringing the Judicial Review claim.
• The Alzheimer's Society will take part in the judicial review as an interested party.
• If the Judicial Review proceeds the Alzheimer's Society will have its own legal representation and will present separate legal arguments.
• The Alzheimer's Society has not received any financial support for this legal action or the access to drugs campaign from pharmaceutical companies nor would it accept any.
• The NICE guidance applies in England and Wales and could possibly be implemented in Northern Ireland at a later date.
• The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.
• Over 750,000 people in the UK have dementia. More than half have Alzheimer's disease.
• Dementia affects one in 20 people over the age of 65 and one in five over the age of 80.
• There are 18,000 people in the UK under the age of 65 with dementia.
• For information and advice on Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia call the Alzheimer's Society national helpline on 0845 300 0336.
• Our website address is: http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/.