NICE blocks Erbitux for head and neck cancer
pharmafile | May 17, 2007 | News story | |Â Â Â
Merck's targeted cancer drug Erbitux has been rejected by NICE for use against head and neck cancer.
The Watchdog's Final Appraisal Determination – on which guidance will be based – decided Merck had not shown Erbitux (cetuximab) in combination with radiotherapy to be cost or clinically effective when compared to radiotherapy alone.
NICE has previously approved use of Erbitux in colorectal cancer and this time was reviewing it for locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN).
Erbitux received European approval for the indication in April 2006, making it the first targeted cancer drug to gain a licence for locally advanced SCCHN.
Months later the SMC approved it for SCCHN, in combination with radiotherapy, on the NHS in Scotland.
NICEs ruling comes as doctors raise concerns about the ability of the NHS to afford the new generation of cancer drugs.
In response to a BBC questionnaire 180 specialist cancer doctors said they were worried or very worried about the situation.
Around half the drugs submitted to NICE are for the treatment of cancer.






