NICE rejects Ibrance (palbociclib) in draft guidance as a treatment for hormone positive, HER-2 negative, breast cancer.- Pfizer

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in draft guidance has rejected Ibrance (palbociclib) from Pfizer as a treatment for hormone positive, HER-2 negative, breast cancer. Although recognizing the 10 month progression free survival shown in trials, the committee considered that the drug was not cost effective at its price of £79,650 for a full course of treatment.

“The committee needs more evidence of the drug’s impact on overall survival of people with breast cancer. However, even when allowing for these potential benefits, it was still not enough to make palbociclib cost effective at its current price,” said Professor Carole Longson, director of the NICE Centre for Health Technology Assessment.