NICE, the healthcare guidance body, has issued new draft guidance not recommending nintedanib (also known as Vargatef) for the treatment of lung cancer because it is too expensive for the benefit it provides.

Nintedanib is marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim and works by binding to the surface of cancer cells to stop the cells from growing and dividing.

Commenting on the draft guidance, Sir Andrew Dillon, NICE chief executive, said: “There are other treatments available for people whose cancer has progressed after their first treatment, but it’s clear that new, more effective options are needed and would be welcomed by patients and doctors. However, on the basis of the evidence provided by Boehringer Ingelheim, the committee appraising nintedanib concluded that the drug did not offer enough benefit for the price they are currently asking the NHS to pay. This preliminary guidance has been published for public consultation and Boehringer Ingelheim now have the opportunity to respond to the committee’s concerns.”

For more details, go to: https://www.nice.org.uk/news/press-and-media/nice-consults-on-the-use-of-a-new-lung-cancer-drug