Novartis’ Kisqali approved for NHS Scotland in most common advanced breast cancer
pharmafile | November 12, 2019 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Sales and Marketing | Cancer, Kisqali, NHS, Novartis, Scotland, breast cancer, pharma
NHS patients in Scotland will soon be able to access Novartis’ CDK4/6 inhibitor Kisqali (ribociclib) after the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) moved to authorise the drug in combination with fulvestrant for routine use on the health service in the treatment of metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer – the most common advanced form of the disease.
The ruling follows another affirmative authorisation from NICE in July this year in the same indication.
This decision was made off the back of trial data demonstrating that Kisqali plus fulvestrant extended progression-free survival in post-menopausal patients by 20.5 months compared to just 12.8 months with placebo plus fulvestrant. Further data illustrated that the combo also reduced the relative risk of death by 28% compared to placebo and fulvestrant.
“Ribociclib in combination with fulvestrant offers better therapy for women in Scotland who are affected by this incurable disease. Potentially delaying the need for more toxic chemotherapy, it provides control of the cancer for longer, whilst maintaining quality of life than can be achieved with endocrine therapy alone,” remarked Professor David Cameron, of the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian.
Mari Scheiffele, General Manager of Novartis Oncology UK & Ireland, also commented: “The SMC recommendation is an important development for patients with advanced breast cancer who need additional treatment options that can maintain their quality of life, provide them with more time without disease progression and offer overall survival.”
Matt Fellows
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