3 August 2017 - UK medicines cost-effectiveness watchdog NICE has today published draft guidance which does not recommend French molecular nuclear medicine specialist Advanced Accelerator Applications’ Lu-177 dotatate (trade name Lutathera) for treating neuroendocrine tumors of gastrointestinal and pancreatic origin.

Lu-177 dotatate works on progressive neuroendocrine tumors that cannot be operated on or have spread. Neuroendocrine tumors can be found in several parts of the body, but the most common areas are the pancreas, gastrointestinal tissue and the lungs. Lu-177 is administered intravenously and it is a radionuclide, which attaches to the surface of the tumor and emits radiation to destroy it.

The cost-effectiveness estimates for Lu-177 dotatate were much higher than the £20,000 ($26,440)- £30,000 ($39,660) per quality adjusted life year (QALY) normally considered as cost-effective by the NICE. The treatment did not meet the end of life criteria considered by the NICE.

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