17 March 2014 - NICE, the healthcare guidance body, has issued new draft guidance recommending afatinib (also known as Giotrif and made by Boehringer Ingelheim) as an option, for treating locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer in people whose tumours test positive for the EGFR-TK mutation and have not received a EGFR-TK inhibitor.

Afatinib is a targeted therapy known as an EGFR-TK inhibitor. It works by blocking the signal pathways helping to slow the growth and spread of tumours. Non-small-cell lung cancer is now tested for EGFR-TK mutation status at diagnosis before people receive their ‘first-line' therapy to ensure that the most appropriate treatment is selected.

Commenting on the draft guidance, Sir Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive of NICE, said: â€œWe've already recommended two drugs, gefitinib and erlotinib, as options for the first-line treatment for patients with this form of lung cancer and we're pleased that this draft guidance recommends a further option.“ 

As the independent Committee is recommending the treatment in line with its marketing authorisation, they decided that an appraisal consultation document was not needed for this appraisal. In accordance with our usual process, the recommendations can therefore go straight to a final draft in order to speed up access to this treatment. The draft guidance is now with consultees, who have the opportunity to appeal against it.”

For more details, go to: http://www.nice.org.uk/newsroom/pressreleases/NICEDraftGuidanceRecommendsNewTreatmentForLungCancer.j...