NICE rejects Yervoy for Metastatic Malignant Melanoma

In a provisional draft guidance the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)will not recommend payment by the UK National Health Service for Yervoy (ipilimumab) from BMS for Metastatic Malignant Melanoma in patients who have received prior chemotherapy. NICE acknowledged that the drug met the criteria for being a life-extending, end-of-life treatment but considers that in quality-adjusted life year (QALY) criterai for people with advanced melanoma ipilimumab would not be considered a cost-effective use of NHS resources. NICE said that ipilimumab costs an average of � 19,565 per dose and that each patient receives four doses. Clinical specialists told NICE that only 30% of people treated with ipilimumab would have improved survival, with only 10% potentially experiencing long-term benefits. No patient characteristics or biomarkers have yet been identified to help identify this small group of people most likely to gain long-term benefit from receiving ipilimumab. BMS plans to submit further evidence to NICE whose decision has been roundly criticised.