NICE has today opened a second consultation on preliminary draft guidance on the drug olaparib (Lynparza) for maintenance treatment of relapsed platinum-sensitive ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer. The drug is for cancers in people who have tested positive for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, and whose disease has responded to platinum-based chemotherapy.

The independent Appraisal Committee which developed the draft guidance is asking the company to provide a robust estimate of the cost effectiveness of olaparib for the subgroup of patients with relapsed disease who have had 3 or more courses of platinum-based chemotherapy. The information requested includes cost of somatic testing[ taking into account the Committee’s concerns about its previous models, and full details of the data supporting.

For people who’ve had fewer than 3 previous courses of platinum-based chemotherapy, the evidence provided shows that the price that the NHS is being asked to pay for olaparib is too high for the benefit it may provide to these particular patients, so the preliminary guidance does not recommend it in this situation.

This draft guidance is now open for public consultation: NICE has not yet published final guidance to the NHS.

For more details, go to: http://www.nice.org.uk/news/press-and-media/nice-asks-company-for-more-information-on-olaparib-for-ovarian-fallopian-tube-and-peritoneal-cancer