NICE rejects three bowel cancer drugs
Monday, September 05, 2011
Bowel Cancer UK's statement:
In response to news today (5/9/11) that
NICE has issued new draft guidance not recommending the use of
Cetuximab (Erbitux, Merck Serono), Bevacizumab (Avastin, Roche
Products) and Panitumumab (Vectibix, Amgen) for the treatment of
metastatic colorectal cancer that has progressed after first line
chemotherapy, Ian Beaumont, Director of Public Affairs, Bowel
Cancer UK said:
"We are disappointed, though not totally surprised, that NICE
has once again turned down access to these biological agents for
advanced bowel cancer. While all three treatments are proven to be
clinically effective, they do not appear to meet NICE's complex
cost effectiveness criteria, which in our view does not fully take
into account their clinical benefit and value to patients.
"Fortunately, patients and clinicians in England do not have to
rely solely on NICE guidance to gain access to these drugs. It is
no coincidence that Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Cetuximab (Erbitux)
for bowel cancer patients are the top two treatments requested and
approved for use through the Cancer Drugs Fund, including for
patients whose cancer has progressed after first line chemotherapy.
We call on NICE to change the way it appraises cancer treatments,
so that clinical excellence, not cost is the primary basis for its
future decisions".
