A win for Sanofi on Jevtana after NICE reverses guidance
pharmafile | April 22, 2016 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing | Cancer Drugs Fund, Jevtana, NICE, Sanofi, recommendation, reversal
Prostate cancer treatment Jevtana (cabazitaxel), marketed by Sanofi (NYSE: SNY) has been recommended by NICE in its final guidance.
The drug was originally rejected by NICE, and also taken off and then reinstated to the cancer drugs fund, amid concerns about the treatment’s cost-effectiveness compared with standard treatments.
After Jevtana was originally turned down in draft guidance, Sanofi increased the discount price of the drug and confirmed that it can be supplied in intravenous bags instead of vials, thus reducing waste.
Under NICE guidance, the drug can be used in combination with prednisone or prednisolone for treating metastatic hormone relapsed prostate cancer in people whose disease has progressed during or after docetaxel chemotherapy under a certain set of conditions.
Between 2013 and 2015, over 550 patients accessed the drug through the cancer drugs fund, but now with this positive recommendation, Jevtana will move into routine use. NICE indicate however that the number of patients receiving the drug is not anticipated to change as a result of this move.
Professor Carole Longson, director of the centre for health technology evaluation at NICE, says: “In these times of austerity, it is even more important to ensure that we’re getting good value for the NHS.
“I am very pleased that this improved discount for cabazitaxel means we are now able to recommend it. This is an excellent example of how pharma companies can work with us to ensure that patients have access to all of their treatment options.”
Sean Murray
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