NICE backs BMS’ paclitaxel in ovarian cancer; drops Eli Lilly’s Gemzar, J&J’s Yondelis
pharmafile | April 27, 2016 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | BMS, Eli Lilly, J&J, JJ, NICE, ovarian cancer, regulation
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has backed Bristol-Myers Squibb’s paclitaxel as a treatment for ovarian cancer.
The regulator also recommended and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride (PLDH).
In its final guidance the regulatory body recommended against Eli Lilly’s (NYSE: LLY) Gemzar (gemcitabine), Johnson & Johnson’s Yondelis (trabectedin) and GlaxoSmithKline’s (LSE: GSK) chemotherapy agent topotecan saying the evidence the three drugs didn’t provide as much benefit for the cost to the NHS as other available options.
An estimated 3,000 women may be eligible for these recommended treatments.
The cost of a course of treatment over one year with paclitaxel is just over 3,600 pounds, and the cost for PLDH is around £8,500 pounds, NICE said in a statement.
NICE dropped the three therapies for treating the first recurrence of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. Topotecan is also not recommended for treating cancer that has returned within six months of platinum treatment, or for cancer which did not respond to platinum treatment at all.
Professor Carole Longson, director of the NICE Centre for Health Technology Evaluation, said: “The independent committee agreed that paclitaxel plus platinum was the most cost-effective option for women with ovarian cancer that has returned, but that PLDH plus platinum could also be considered.”
“The committee found that the evidence on the further three drugs indicated didn’t provide as much benefit for the cost to the NHS as other options available, so we could not recommend those drugs. NICE makes difficult decisions to ensure that people using the NHS get access to the most cost-effective treatments, and to help the NHS to share its resources fairly,” Longson said.
Anjali Shukla
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