Two cancer drugs referred early for NICE evaluation
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is to evaluate trastuzumab (Herceptin) for the treatment of early stage breast cancer and bortezomib (Velcade) for the treatment of multiple myeloma in advance of its 12th wave work programme.
Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health, announced last week that
she has decided to refer the two drugs early to allow NICE to begin preliminary
work on the development of advice to the NHS on the clinical and cost
effectiveness of these treatments.
Trastuzumab is not yet licensed for the treatment of early stage breast
cancer. However, interim results from three major trials presented at
the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in May (PJ,
21 May, p605) suggest that it could halve the risk of recurrence in early
breast cancer.
“The manufacturer is analysing the trial results and if those are
encouraging, we expect them to apply to the Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory
Agency for an extended licence for the drug. Once an application is made
it could take as little as two to three months for an extended licence
to be issued. In the meantime I will expect health bodies to consider
the evidence base for these treatments and develop plans for their managed
introduction,” said Mrs Hewitt.
Private medical insurers BUPA, Norwich Union, Western Provident Association
and Standard Life have agreed to pay for the use of trastuzumab in early
stage breast cancer in advance of an extension to its licence being granted
in the UK. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader