In draft guidance published recently, NICE has recommended a new treatment, pazopanib (Votrient, GlaxoSmithKline), for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Pazopanib is recommended as a first-line treatment option for people with advanced renal cell carcinoma who have not received prior cytokine therapy and have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)1 performance status of 0 or 1. As agreed under the patient access scheme the manufacturer will also provide pazopanib with a 12.5% discount on the list price and a possible future rebate linked to the outcome of the head-to-head trial, known as the COMPARZ trial, comparing pazopanib and sunitinib, details of which will be confirmed when the COMPARZ trial data are made available.
Dr Carole Longson, Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director at NICE said: “Sunitinib is recommended by NICE for first line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. Pazopanib will offer patients an additional option and, for some, a more favourable side effect profile.
“The manufacturer has offered a straight discount on the list price of pazopanib, as well as providing a possible future rebate linked to the outcome of the head to head trial comparing pazopanib and sunitinib; making pazopanib a cost-effective option for the NHS.”
In line with the NICE technology appraisals process this draft guidance is now with consultees, who have the opportunity to appeal against the proposed guidance. NICE has not yet issued final guidance to the NHS. Final guidance is expected to be published in February 2011. Until NICE issues final guidance, NHS bodies should make decisions locally on the funding of specific treatments.
Renal cell carcinoma is a kidney cancer (tumour) that starts in cells lining the small tubes that help to make urine. In advanced disease, the tumour has spread inside the kidney, but may or may not have spread to nearby lymph glands. In metastatic renal cell carcinoma, the tumour has spread beyond the lymph glands to other parts of the body. In March 2009, NICE recommended sunitinib for people with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Source: NICE