
NICE recommends Janssen’s Darzalex myeloma combo
pharmafile | March 12, 2019 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | Janssen, NICE, Velcade, darzalex, myeloma
Britain’s cost effectiveness body NICE have recommended Janssen Pharmaceutical’s Darzalex in combination with Velcade and dexamethasone (DVd), for use within the cancer drugs fund as an option for treating relapsed multiple myeloma in people who have had one previous treatment.
In recommending the treatment NICE agreed that the drug combo was “clinically important and statistically significant effect on progression-free survival.” However the government body stopped short of making the treatment routinely available as they argued that data to back up its survival benefit in the long-term is limited.
The drug will be offered through the Cancer Drugs Fund and will thus be available to patients. However Janssen commented in suggesting it was disappointed that routine access was not being offered on the NHS.
Jennifer Lee, director of health economics, market access and reimbursement (HEMAR) and advocacy at Janssen, commented: “While it is positive news that patients will now be able to access DVd, it is disappointing that NICE – despite recognising the life-extending, step-change this combination represents for patients – did not recommend routine access on the NHS. The parameters through which NICE determines uncertainty need urgent re-evaluation.”
Louis Goss
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