In a draft guidance, UK's National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) denied coverage for Johnson & Johnson's Imbruvica for treating Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia.
Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia is a rare and incurable cancer of the lymphatic system -- a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
While NICE acknowledged the unmet need for treating patients with this disease, the agency said there is no cost-effectiveness evidence for the group and that NICE could not back the drug on the level of data provided.
The guidance, however, is not final and could change after the appraisal committee meets to consider further comments.
Read the guidance