Patients with rare bile duct cancer set to benefit from life extending treatment

22 Jul 2021 10:25 AM

Some people who have a rare form of bile duct cancer are set to benefit from life-extending treatment

Some people who have a rare form of bile duct cancer are set to benefit from life-extending treatment pemigatinib after NICE published final draft guidance today (22nd July 2021).

Pemigatinib (also known as Pemaryze and made by the Incyte Corporation) is recommended within its conditional marketing authorisation for treating locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusion or rearrangement.

Pemigatinib is an option for adults whose cancer has progressed after chemotherapy and around 50 people will be eligible for treatment with it. Evidence suggests that pemigatinib works better than current treatments at this stage of cancer.

Pemigatinib was not recommended at the appraisal consultation draft stage, but the company has provided further information to address the uncertainties highlighted by the committee. This has enabled the committee to conclude pemigatinib is most likely within the range that NICE considers a cost-effective use of NHS resources for a life-extending treatment at end of life.

Meindert Boysen, deputy chief executive and director of the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation at NICE said: “I am pleased we are able to recommend this life-extending treatment for people with this extremely rare form of bile duct cancer. Treatment options for this form of cancer have not improved in a long time and we recognise there is an urgent unmet clinical need for people who have this disease.

“Today’s decision comes after the company was able to work with us in addressing the concerns highlighted by the committee in the previous draft guidance. This recommendation is a great example of how NICE and companies, by working closely and collaboratively, can really help make a difference to patients.”