Patient groups and academics have urged the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Johnson & Johnson unit Janssen to get back to the table following the former’s rejection of Zytiga as a treatment for prostate cancer before chemotherapy.  

In final draft guidance NICE has not recommended Zytiga (abiraterone) for prostate cancer in people who received hormone therapy but whose disease has spread, who have few symptoms and when chemotherapy would not yet have been given. The drug is already backed by the cost watchdog for treatment after docetaxel containing chemotherapy.

Sir Andrew Dillon, NICE chief executive, said “we know how important it is for patients to have the option to delay chemotherapy and its associated side effects, so we are disappointed not to be able to recommend abiraterone for use in this way. However, the manufacturer’s own economic model demonstrated that the drug does not offer enough benefit to justify its price”.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/14-08-15/NICE_and_Janssen_urged_to_end_Zytiga_fiasco.aspx