24 August 2018 - French drugmaker Ipsen that it has received a recommendation from NICE for National Health Service funding of Cabometyx (cabozantinib) for use in adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

The approval, based on results from the Phase II CABOSUN study which showed Cabometyx increasing survival times among patients when compared to Pfizer's Sutent (sunitinib), comes two years after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency designated Cabometyx a "promising innovative medicine" and three months after Ipsen's kidney cancer therapy was approved by the European Commission.

Matthew Hickling, medical director of Ipsen UK and Ireland commented on the announcement, saying: "This decision is very positive news for advanced renal cell carcinoma patients that don’t have time to wait and can now access cabozantinib earlier in their treatment pathway."

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