Breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer treatment

Read all Breaking News from RegLink · Breast cancer treatment not value for money says draft NICE guidance.


Provisional draft guidance published today (21 March) by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) does not recommend the drug everolimus (Afinitor, Novartis Pharmaceuticals) as an NHS-funded treatment for a type of advanced breast cancer.


NICE is currently appraising everolimus (in combination with the drug exemestane) as a treatment for HER2 negative, hormone-receptor-positive advanced breast cancer[i]. The treatment is only licensed for use in postmenopausal women with this type of breast cancer if their disease has returned or progressed following initial treatment with a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor (a type of hormone therapy) and if they have no symptoms from visceral disease (when the cancer has spread to the body's soft organs). It is for this specific group of people that NICE is developing guidance.
Sir Andrew Dillon, NICE Chief Executive, said: “For a treatment to be recommended by NICE, it must be shown to be cost-effective. That means it must work as well as, or better than, current NHS treatment, taking into account any associated side effects and the cost that the NHS is being asked to pay.

“While the independent Appraisal Committee acknowledged that everolimus may offer a step change in treatment by restoring sensitivity of the tumour to hormone therapy, the evidence highlighted uncertainty relating to how much the treatment extends overall survival. Using the most appropriate estimates, the committee concluded that everolimus is not a cost-effective treatment option for the NHS.”
Sir Andrew Dillon added: “NICE has now opened a consultation on this draft guidance for everolimus and we welcome comments which will help the Appraisal Committee develop the guidance further.”
Consultees, including the manufacturer, healthcare professionals and members of the public are able to comment on the draft recommendations via the NICE website until 15 April 2013. Comments received during this consultation will be fully considered by the Committee.
NICE has not yet issued final guidance to the NHS. Until this happens, NHS bodies should make decisions locally on the funding of specific treatments.