Nice denies approval to cancer treatment

In draft guidance, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has said it did not recommend Avastin (bevacizumab) for the treatment of breast cancer when used in combination with capecitabine (a type of chemotherapy).

Nice said that making Avastin available on the NHS was not a good use of resources because of its high cost together with a lack of evidence to show patients would have a better quality of life than if they were treated with chemotherapy alone.

Nice chief executive Sir Andrew Dillon said: “We understand the need for effective treatments that can help patients live for as long as possible with a good quality of life. However, the evidence submitted to our independent appraisal committee did not conclusively show that bevacizumab could do either.

“The cost-effectiveness of the treatment was also an issue; we can’t recommend a drug that has not been shown to work as well as, or better than, current treatments and costs much more.

“We want to ensure people have access to the best treatments the NHS can afford; bevacizumab has so far not been proven to be clinically or cost-effective.”

A consultation has been opened for the drug’s manufacturer, healthcare professionals and others to comment on the Nice guidance.

The drug, which is administered via a drip, works by starving the cancer of oxygen and nutrients so tumours shrink or stop growing.

Avastin, which can be used to treat several cancers, is licensed for use in the UK but has yet to be approved by Nice, so patients may be denied the drug, even when doctors recommend it.