The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) turned down Pfizer’s Xalkori to treat ROS1-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The Agency said they will not be recommending Xalkori (Crizotinib) for previously treated ROS1-positive NSCLC, because the cost-effectiveness estimates are higher than what NICE normally considers acceptable for end-of-life treatments.
Additionally, the Agency will not recommend the drug for untreated ROS1-positive advanced NSCLC because it is too difficult to determine cost-effectiveness from the limited trials and proxy populations Pfizer used.
All is not lost for Pfizer however, as NICE believes Xalkori may have potential in ROS1-positive lung cancer, and has asked the drugmaker to consider submitting a proposal for including Xalkori in England’s Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).
Read the NICE document