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| Rejected: Avastin will not be routinely prescribed to people on the NHS with metastic bowel cancers |
The drugs Avastin, Erbitux and Vectibix will not be routinely available on the NHS for people with metastatic bowel cancers, those that have spread to the rest of the body.
The decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) came despite the fact that there is evidence that two of the drugs can prolong life.
However, patients should still be able get the medicines if their doctors believe they would benefit from them, through the £200million Cancer Drugs Fund set up by the Coalition last year.
Mike Hobday, head of policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said last night: ‘This decision is very disappointing news for people with bowel cancer.’
In draft guidance unveiled yesterday, Nice said it could not recommend the use of the three drugs for metastatic colorectal cancer that has progressed after chemotherapy.
None of the treatments have been approved for use in Scotland.
Nice admitted Erbitux, also known as cetuximab, prolonged life for cancer sufferers who had tried other drugs that had failed, while Vectibix (panitumumab) also provided a ‘survival benefit’, although the length of this was uncertain.
The organisation said there was ‘no evidence’ that Avastin (bevacizumab) prolonged life for people with this type of cancer.
However, none of the drugs were deemed to be cost effective, with a treatment of Erbitux costing £90,000 a year and Vectibix up to £150,000.
Andrew Dillon, NICE’s chief executive, said: ‘Metastatic colorectal cancer is when the primary cancer has spread from the colon or rectum to other parts of the body, such as the liver. It can be a devastating disease for both the patient and their family.
‘We have already recommended six treatments for various stages of colorectal cancer and are disappointed not to be able to recommend cetuximab, bevacizumab and panitumumab for this stage, but we have to be confident that the benefits justify the cost of the drugs
'At present, the independent appraisal committee who drafted the recommendations does not feel it has enough clear evidence, especially in the case of bevacizumab, to be able to recommend these drugs for use on the NHS.’
Members of the public, doctors and drugs companies involved are now invited to respond to a consultation on NICE’s recommendation.
Last year the Coalition brought in the Cancer Drugs Fund, providing £200million for people unable to access drugs because of NICE decisions to get them funded.
The public, doctors and drugs companies are now being invited to respond to a consultation on Nice’s recommendation.
5th September 2011
Dailymail.co.uk
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2033777/Three-bowel-cancer-drugs-people-advanced-stages-disease-rejected-cost-grounds.html
