NICE recommends Bayer’s Xofigo for prostate cancer treatment
pharmafile | September 2, 2016 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing | Bayer, NICE, approval, prostate cancer, recommendation, xofigo
NICE has issued final draft guidance recommending Bayer’s Xofigo (radium-223 dichloride) for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Previously, the drug was only recommended for those patients who had already received Taxotere (docetaxel) chemotherapy. For those whom this chemotherapy was not suitable, Xofigo could only be accessed through the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).
At the time of its approval, lead trial researcher for Xofigo, Christopher Parker, said: “Xofigo targets bone metastases, delivering a localised cytotoxic effect to offer patients prolonged survival, making it an exciting advance in the treatment of this cancer.”
According to the NICE, data submitted by Bayer on the cost-effectiveness of Xofigo compared to current standards of care was sufficient for their committee could consider the drug an efficient use of NHS resources.
In terms of cost, it is indicated that the previously agreed confidential patient access scheme for the drug remains unchanged. Now, patients who have received Taxotere or for whom Taxotere is unsuitable can access Xofigo through the NHS.
Professor Carole Longson, director of the centre for health technology evaluation at NICE, says: “I am pleased we have been able to broaden our recommendations for radium-223. Patients with prostate cancer will surely benefit from this drug being available for routine NHS use.
“I hope we’ll see more drugs like this move into routine NHS use after companies have been able to better to better demonstrate cost-effectiveness.”
Sean Murray
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