NICE has issued new draft guidance proposing to recommend imatinib mesylate, also known as Glivec and made by Novartis, after surgery for some people with gastro-intestinal stromal tumours (GISTs). This appraisal reviews previous guidance issued to the NHS in 2010 which did not recommend imatinib mesylate.

Commenting on the draft guidance, Professor Carole Longson, health technology evaluation centre director at NICE, said: “When the original guidance was published, the committee felt there wasn’t enough evidence about key aspects of the clinical effectiveness of imatinib. However, as the results from ongoing trials have been published and there is now clear evidence that giving imatinib after surgery can delay the recurrence of GIST and in some cases increase survival, we are pleased to be able to propose recommending the drug.”

For more details, go to: https://www.nice.org.uk/News/Press-and-Media/NICE-reviews-guidance-on-imatinib-for-digestive-system-tumours