NICE deems breast cancer drug not cost effective

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has announced that it does not find everolimus cost effective. The breast cancer treatment, aslo known as Afinitor and manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals, will therefore not be recommended for use by the NHS.

The guidance advises that the treatment should not be routinely provided as a treatment for postmenopausal women with HER2 negative, hormone-receptor-positive advanced breast cancer.

"NICE assesses treatments and recommends those which are found to be the most clinically and cost effective. With limited NHS funds, it's important we make recommendations based on how well a treatment works compared to alternative treatments in the NHS, as well as any associated side effects and the cost that the health service is being asked to pay."

Sir Andrew Dillon, NICE Chief Executive

Whilst the treatment was acknowledged to delay the growth and spread of breast cancer by around four months, there were uncertainties relating to how long it could extend a person's life compared with the drug exemestane (Aromasin®) alone.

Women who are already receiving everolimus should continue with it until they and their doctor thinks it's appropriate to stop, according to the guidance.