
NICE turns down Amgen’s multiple myeloma drug
pharmafile | November 9, 2016 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Amgen, Kyprolis, NICE
Amgen has seen its drug Kyprolis (carfilzomib) rejected by NICE for its routine use in the treatment of multiple myeloma in combination with Celgene’s Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone or dexamethasone.
Administered intravenously, Kyprolis is an irreversible proteasome inhibitor which binds to the N-terminal threonine site, causing degradation of the proteins in the cell. Amgen had presented results from the ASPIRE and ENDEAVOR trials, the latter of which showed that the drug achieved a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 18.7 months in combination with dexamethasone, as opposed to the 9.4 months achieved by Janssen’s Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone.
NICE turned the drug down for the new indication due to a number a reasons, citing clinical uncertainties which made determining its cost-effectiveness difficult, while it also failed to qualify for end-of-life consideration.
Kyprolis was previous rejected by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) in September 2016 due to efficacy and cost-effectiveness concerns, but received EMA approval in November of last year.
Matt Fellows
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