NICE is currently appraising the use of erlotinib (Tarceva, Roche Products) as a maintenance treatment for people with non-small-cell lung cancer who have had first line treatment with chemotherapy and their disease has remained stable. In final draft guidance, published today, NICE has not recommended erlotinib.
Sir Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive of NICE said: “The aim of maintenance treatment is to prolong the benefits of treatment and to maximise quality of life for as long as possible. We have already recommended pemetrexed as a maintenance treatment under certain circumstances and are disappointed not to have been able to recommend erlotinib. However, where pemetrexed was shown to offer a potential additional 5.2 months of life to patients, it is uncertain how much benefit erlotinib can offer as a maintenance treatment.”
In line with the NICE technology appraisals process this draft guidance is now with consultees, who have the opportunity to appeal against the proposed recommendations. NICE has not yet issued final guidance to the NHS. Until NICE issues final guidance, NHS bodies should make decisions locally on the funding of specific treatments.
Erlotinib has been shown to have some clinical benefit, with the manufacturer estimating it can potentially extend life by approximately 3 months. However, the independent Appraisal Committee did not feel the evidence was sufficiently robust to demonstrate this extension to life.
Source: NICE