UK NICE does not recommend Portrazza (necitumumab) for treating non small cell lung cancer- Eli Lilly

The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published draft guidance that does not recommend approval for use of Portrazza (necitumumab), from Eli Lilly, for treating non small cell lung cancer. The NICE appraisal committee acknowledged that necitumumab provides small improvements in overall survival, however it cost too much compared to combination chemotherapy. The committee also decided that necitumumab did not meet the criteria to be considered for use in the Cancer Drugs Fund as it was not cost-effective and no clinical uncertainties could be addressed from further data collection. This is not final guidance.

Comment: Portrazza was approved earlier this year by the European Commission for use in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor expressing squamous non-small cell lung cancer who have not received prior chemotherapy for this condition.