The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has released decisions on seven drugs in November 2020.

Atezolizumab [Tecentrq] was accepted for the treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, and for the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, after consideration through SMC's Patient and Clinician Engagement (PACE) process. In combination with chemotherapy, atezolizumab has the potential to improve progression-free survival and overall survival in both of these patient populations.

Romosozumab [Evenity] was accepted for the treatment of severe osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It can reduce the risk of fractures in these patients.

Trabectedin [Yondelis] was accepted through the PACE process for the treatment of advanced soft-tissue sarcoma. Trabectedin offers an additional treatment option with the potential to extend the period of stable disease.

The SMC has published an initial assessment report on volanesorsen [Waylivra] for the treatment of familial chylomicronaemia syndrome. Volanesorsen was assessed through the ultra-orphan pathway for medicines which treat very rare conditions. It may reduce abdominal pain and episodes of severe pancreatitis, and improve quality of life. After the drug company provides a plan detailing how further data on the effects of the medicine will be collected, volanesorsen will be available through NHSFootnote 1Scotland for three years while the information is gathered. Following this, SMC will review the new evidence and make a decision on routine availability of the drug in NHSScotland.

Through an expedited approach to minimise delay in patient access following the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SMC has also accepted darolutamide [Nubeqa] for the treatment of prostate cancer, and trastuzumab emtansine [Kadcyla] for the treatment of breast cancer.

The SMC was unable to accept patiromer [Veltassa] for the treatment of hyperkalaemia, because the committee was not satisfied with the drug company's evidence on its cost effectiveness.