COPENHAGEN, Denmark, January 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Lundbeck welcomes the news that patients in England and Wales with moderate or severe Alzheimer's, within specific conditions, will qualify for treatment with Ebixa(R) under the Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)[1]. The company urges the rapid implementation of this Technology Appraisal guidance with allocation of the mandatory funding to ensure eligible patients will be given access without delay.

Dr David Wilkinson, consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at the Memory Assessment and Research Centre in Southampton commented: "This decision from NICE is very welcome news as memantine, with its different mode of action from the other available treatments, offers new hope for patients, carers and doctors dealing with Alzheimer's disease - one of the most distressing diseases we have to face."

Karin Jexner Hamberg , Vice President Medical Affairs & Clinical Development Centres at Lundbeck said: "We are delighted that this review has broadened the scope for patient access to Ebixa(R) in England and Wales. We hope this guidance will quickly provide improved access to treatment for Alzheimer's patients when their physicians deem it appropriate."This guidance brings England and Wales into line with the majority of other European countries where Ebixa(R) is already available to patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Previously in England and Wales, only patients with moderate disease had access to Alzheimer's treatment. This new guidance also permits the broader use of AChEIs to include mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease - effectively now giving all Alzheimer's patients in England and Wales access to treatment.

Notes to Editors:

The NICE Final Appraisal Determination (2011)

Donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine and memantine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (review of NICE technology appraisal 111) provides the following guidance for the National Health Service in England and Wales for Ebixa(R) (memantine)1:

"Memantine is recommended as an option for managing Alzheimer's disease for people with:

- moderate Alzheimer's disease who are intolerant of or have a contraindication to AChE inhibitors or - severe Alzheimer's disease.

Treatment should be under the conditions specified in 1.3."