Capsaicin: 5 agencies, 2004–2026
This page collects every recorded health technology assessment decision for one molecule across the agencies in our archive, and compares them. The comparison is the point: each agency publishes its own verdict, none publishes how that verdict sits against the others.
What the record shows
Where capsaicin met resistance it was usually narrowed rather than refused: 5 of 11 decisive outcomes were recommendations with restrictions, against 2 outright refusals.
The file has been open for more than a decade: 21.8 years separate the first record, 19 Aug 2004 at PHARMAC (New Zealand), from the most recent, 8 Jun 2026 at SMC (Scotland).
PHARMAC (New Zealand) changed its position: recommended on 19 Aug 2004, not recommended by 23 Feb 2022.
No assessment is on file from PBAC (Australia), CIPM (Spain) and G-BA (Germany), each among the eight highest-volume agencies here.
The file is active: 2 of 11 records date from 2023 or later.
PHARMAC (New Zealand) was first to assess capsaicin, on 19 Aug 2004; SMC (Scotland) did not open a file until 13 Oct 2014 — an unusually long tail of 10.2 years between the earliest and latest system to look at it.
Restriction is doing real work here: 5 of 11 decisive outcomes narrowed capsaicin to a subgroup rather than accepting or refusing it outright, at AWMSG (Wales), PHARMAC (New Zealand) and SMC (Scotland) among others.
3 of the 5 agencies here assessed capsaicin more than once, HAS (France) most often at 4 entries — repeat review is the norm for this molecule rather than the exception.
Coverage is narrow: only 5 of the 18 agencies here have assessed capsaicin.
The full ledger for capsaicin reads 5 restricted, 4 recommended and 2 not recommended.
Decisions on file
| Agency | Date | Indication as recorded | Outcome | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAS (France) | 17 Dec 2025 | Indication extension | SMR low · ASMR V | source |
| PHARMAC (New Zealand) | 23 Feb 2022 | Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome | PTAC advice: Decline · decision reached | source |
| SMC (Scotland) | 13 Oct 2014 | For the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain in non-diabetic adults either alone or in combination with other medicinal products for pain. | accepted (restricted) | source |
| AWMSG (Wales) | 8 Mar 2012 | Treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain in non-diabetic adults either alone or in combination with other medicinal prod… | recommended with restrictions (full) | source |
| TLV (Sweden) | 24 Feb 2011 | Qutenza ingår i högkostnadsskyddet med begränsning | restricted subsidy | source |
6 further decisions for capsaicin, across 3 agencies, are not shown here. They include the most recent record on file, 8 Jun 2026 from SMC (Scotland); its outcome is in the subscriber dataset. They link to 3 further source documents.
Related molecules
- osimertinib — also decided by SMC in 2026Q2
- brentuximab — also decided by SMC in 2026Q2
- tafasitamab — also decided by SMC in 2026Q2
- talquetamab — also decided by SMC in 2026Q2
- peginterferon alfa-2a — also decided by SMC in 2026Q2
- pembrolizumab — also decided by SMC in 2026Q2
Coverage: 11 decisions for capsaicin from 5 agencies, 2004 to 2026. Data to 7 Sep 2026. ATC class N01B — Anesthetics. How this page is produced. Compiled by Altima Partners; queries: sales@altimapartners.co.uk.