NICE rejects three bowel cancer drugs
pharmafile | September 5, 2011 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Erbitux, NICE, Vectibix, avastin, colorectal cancer
NICE says three treatments – Roche’s Avastin, Merck KgAa’s Erbitux and Amgen’s Vectibix – are all not cost effective in treating metastatic colorectal cancer.
The Institute concluded the high cost of the drugs could not be justified because none of the companies presented convincing data to show they significantly extended lives of patients with the disease.
“We have already recommended six treatments for various stages of colorectal cancer and are disappointed not to be able to recommend cetuximab (Erbitux), bevacizumab (Avastin) and panitumumab (Vectibix) for this stage, but we have to be confident that the benefits justify the cost of the drugs,” NICE’s chief executive Andrew Dillon said in a statement.
The draft guidance is open to public consultation until Wednesday. Dillon added that the companies can also submit further comment on the committee’s interpretation of their products’ clinical effectiveness or consider reducing their prices.
Around 20–55% of people with colorectal cancer already have metastatic disease by the time they are diagnosed, by which time their prognosis is bleak.
In addition, of the people who have undergone surgery for early-stage colorectal cancer, approximately 50–60% will eventually develop metastatic disease, most commonly in the liver.
NICE’s continued rejection of drugs to treat metastatic colorectal cancer has meant demand for them through England’s new Cancer Drugs Fund is high, with regional committees funding treatment for many patients despite NICE’s ruling.
Andrew McConaghie
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