Following a second resubmission, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject®) for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of iron deficiency when oral iron preparations are ineffective or cannot be used.  Its use is restricted to administration by intravenous (IV) infusion within the licensed indication but excluding use in patients receiving haemodialysis, as the manufacturer’s economic case did not consider the cost-effectiveness of IV bolus administration or use in haemodialysis patients.

The drug advice summarises the evidence on comparative efficacy, safety, and the available health economic evidence (please see the link below for details).  This notes that ferric carboxymaltose was superior to oral ferrous sulphate in raising haemoglobin levels in non-dialysis-dependent patients with chronic kidney disease and iron deficiency anaemia.