
NICE knocks back Janssen rare disease drug
pharmafile | October 13, 2016 | News story | Medical Communications | Janssen, NICE, imbruvica
NICE has announced its rejection of Janssen’s Imbruvica (ibrutinib) for the treatment of specific cases of Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia (WM) – a rare type of slow growing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
In draft guidance recommending against its use on the NHS, the institute noted that, despite the drug meeting a significant unmet need, it could not be judged as cost-effective; Janssen failed to submit sufficient evidence in this regard for patients for whom chemotherapy is considered unsuitable. The institute also deemed it unlikely that further data collection could make any foreseeable change in this regard, and so it could not recommend it for the Cancer Drugs Fund.
“Taking into account the insufficient evidence, and the ICERs presented by the company which were substantially above normal ranges considered value for money,” the committee noted.
Imbruvica is available at the list price of £4,599 for 90×140mg capsules and £6,132 for 120×140mg capsules (excluding VAT), but the company has agreed a confidential discount with the Department of Health.
Matt Fellows
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