Breast cancer patients to have routine access to two life extending drugs after new deal, say NICE in draft guidance

16 Nov 2017 12:46 PM

NICE has recommended palbociclib and ribociclib for routine funding after the companies lowered the prices and gave more evidence for their effectiveness.

Breast cancer patients to have routine access to two life extending drugs after new deal, say NICE in draft guidance

Palbociclib (Ibrance) from Pfizer and ribociclib (Kisqali) from Norvatis, are recommended for people with hormone receptor (HR) positive, HER2 negative locally advanced or secondary breast cancer.

There are around 45,000 new diagnosis of breast cancer each year in England and it is estimated that around 8,000 of these people would be eligible for treatment with either palbociclib or ribociclib.

Although there are some uncertainties on how long they extend the life expectancy of people with this type of breast cancer, these promising new drugs were found to stall the growth of cancer for an extra 10 months on average. The committee also discussed other potential benefits, including reducing the need for chemotherapy.

Both drugs are given as a tablet once-daily alongside an aromatase inhibitor, a type of anti-cancer drug that works by blocking the production of oestrogen, stopping the hormone’s ability to stimulate some breast cancers to grow.

Palbociclib and ribociclib are the first of a new type of drug that slows cancer by inhibiting two proteins typically called CDK 4 and 6.

Professor Carole Longson director of the centre for health technology evaluation at NICE, said: “The committee heard that by postponing disease progression, palbociclib and ribociclib may reduce the number of people who are exposed to the often unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy, and delay the need for its use in others.

“We are pleased therefore that the companies have been able to agree reductions to the price of palbociclib and ribociclib to allow them to be made routinely available to people with this type of breast cancer.” 

The list price of 1 cycle of both palbociclib and ribociclib is £2,950, however the discounted price that was approved remains confidential.