17 September 2015 - The cost of using nab-paclitaxel (marketed as Abraxane by Celgene) to treat pancreatic cancer is not justified by its limited benefits compared to current treatments, according to NICE.

NICE has confirmed in final draft guidance that nab-paclitaxel, when given with the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine, should not be funded by the NHS for people whose pancreatic cancer has spread and who have not received any other treatments.

People with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer are usually offered a combination treatment called FOLFIRINOX, but it is associated with serious side effects and cannot be given to everyone. Other options include gemcitabine either on its own or with another chemotherapy called capecitabine.

Information provided by Celgene showed that although nab-paclitaxel with gemcitabine was more effective than gemcitabine alone, it resulted in more serious side effects. It also caused more side effects than gemcitabine with capecitabine despite having similar effectiveness.

Commenting on the draft guidance, Sir Andrew Dillon, NICE chief executive, said: “Pancreatic cancer has no obvious warning signs so many people are not diagnosed until their cancer is advanced. Prognosis is poor and without treatment people may live for only 2 to 6 months.

“Unfortunately the development of new treatments for pancreatic cancer has been very limited in recent years. Although nab-paclitaxel is more effective than one of the treatment options currently available, it is linked with more side effects. When considering the impact of side effects on a patient’s quality of life and the fact that it is also more expensive, nab-paclitaxel cannot be considered an effective use of NHS resources.”

For more details, go to: http://www.nice.org.uk/news/press-and-media/nice-publishes-final-draft-guidance-on-nab-paclitaxel-abraxane-for-pancreatic-cancer

MAESTrO Insight: Paclitaxel (nanoparticle albumin bound) was recommended by the PBAC for use by patients with pancreatic cancer in March 2014.