Bayer 28-Apr-09
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NICE continues to ration access to kidney cancer medicines, preventing doctors from providing the best possible treatment option for each individual patient
EXTERNAL BRIEFING DOCUMENT FOLLOWING NICE DECISION
Newbury, 28th April, 2009:
Today the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) announced the Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) for Nexavar® (sorafenib), Sutent® (sunitinib), Avastin® (bevacizumab) and Torisel® (temsirolimus) in advanced kidney cancer. NICE has not recommended sorafenib, bevacizumab and temsirolimus as first line treatment option for kidney cancer. Furthermore, it does not recommend sorafenib or sunitinib for second line treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. More than 7,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year, of which 1,7001 will have the advanced form of the disease. “By approving only one of the four active drugs for renal cell carcinoma NICE is pursuing a one size fits all policy for this complicated disease. This one dimensional approach will leave some patients without potentially beneficial treatments, indeed some patients will not be eligible for any effective treatments whatsoever.” said Dr. Thomas Powles, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Barts and The London NHS Trust. Kate Spall, Head of The Pamela Northcott Fund, commented "For those currently living with advanced kidney cancer and fighting for access to treatment options, NICE’s final pronouncement will be devastating news. By rejecting these treatments used to prolong the lives of advanced kidney cancer patients, patients and their families will be denied additional time together. Furthermore by limiting the treatment options doctors will be unable to give individual patients their best possible treatment which could mean better quality of life at such an important time."
Nicole Farmer, Business Unit Head of Bayer Schering Pharma Oncology in the UK said “Bayer Schering Pharma is disappointed with the NICE decision and feels that patients with RCC should have the chance to access life prolonging medication. For those that can benefit from sunitinib, the earlier recommendation was a step forward. Unfortunately, not all RCC patients will be able to benefit from this treatment or be suitable to try it in the first instance.” She added: “NICE have recognised that Nexavar is a clinically effective2 life-extending end-of-life treatment with robust evidence in its support. It is widely accepted that allowing healthcare professionals greater access to a fuller range of treatment options for RCC patients, will make them better able to tailor treatment decisions to each patient individually. The patient, ultimately, benefits. This decision by NICE reaffirms why the UK currently sits 16 out of 18 EU countries with regard to cancer outcomes.”
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