Price cut sways NICE on Zytiga
pharmafile | May 16, 2012 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Jevtana, NICE, Zytiga, prostate cancer
NICE is recommending Janssen’s prostate cancer pill Zytiga, reversing its previous stance.
In its final guidance, the watchdog is recommending Zytiga (abiraterone), in combination with prednisone or prednisolone for the treatment of castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer that has progressed after one docetaxel-containing therapy.
This is a reversal of its previous draft guidance, which was minded not to recommend Zytiga based on its cost.
NICE switched to a positive decision after Janssen provided new data for the drug’s effectiveness in a subgroup of patients.
This new data meant NICE could use its end-of-life criteria for the drug – these criteria allow the watchdog to recommend a more expensive treatment, as long as it has proven its efficacy and can be used in a small patient population.
Janssen also offered an updated patient access scheme that discounted Zytiga’s list price, but the size of the price cut has been kept confidential.
The list price of Zytiga is £2,930 for a 30-day supply of 120 tablets and is taken as four 250-mg tablets per day.
Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, said: “During the consultation on the draft guidance Janssen, the manufacturer of the drug, submitted further information for the committee to consider.
“This included a revised patient access scheme, which involves providing the drug to the NHS at a discounted price; further information on which patients would benefit most and clarification on how many patients could receive the drug.
“These factors enabled the committee to revise its preliminary recommendation and now recommend the drug for use on the NHS.”
Sir Andrew added that NICE was ‘very pleased’ that Janssen’s submission allowed the watchdog to recommend Zytiga, adding that it was an effective oral treatment that can potentially extend life by more than three months.
Martin Price, external affairs director at Janssen UK, said: “We are delighted with this positive [final] recommendation.
“After the initial rejection Janssen has gone to significant lengths to find a solution that allows eligible patients to be treated with this innovative, UK discovered medicine, routinely on the NHS.”
NICE’s Scottish counterpart the Scottish Medicines Consortium ruled against Zytiga in March because of its high price.
The Scottish watchdog is currently considering a re-submission, and is due to publish its decision later this summer.
NICE’s decision on Zytiga is in contrast to the rejection of Sanofi’s prostate cancer drug Jevtana (cabazitaxel) last week.
NICE said in its final guidance that Sanofi’s drug was too costly for the NHS, and had concerns about the Jevtana’s adverse events, including haematological problems and diarrhoea.
Ben Adams
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