Watchdog rejects use of tumour drugs on NHS

Two drugs to treat bladder and lung cancer should not be approved for use on the NHS, a health watchdog has said.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) is not recommending Tarceva (erlotinib) as a maintenance treatment for people with non-small-cell lung cancer that is stable following chemotherapy.

It also turned down Javlor (vinflunine) for advanced bladder cancer. Both pieces of guidance are subject to consultation.

Nice said the evidence for erlotinib was not robust enough to say it would extend people’s lives by the three months suggested by the manufacturer.

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