25 February 2014 - A skin cancer treatment should only be used by the NHS for patients in clinical trials to ensure that evidence for its clinical effectiveness continues to be collected, says NICE. 
In preliminary draft guidance, NICE recommends that the drug ipilimumab (also called Yervoy and manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited) is used only in the context of research as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced malignant melanoma which is either unresectable (when the full tumour cannot be removed) or metastatic (the cancer has spread to other parts of the body).
The draft guidance states that people currently receiving ipilimumab as part of their NHS care should continue with the treatment until they and their doctor consider it appropriate to stop.
Sir Andrew Dillon, NICE Chief Executive, said: “There are limited first-line treatment options available for patients with this type of advanced skin cancer. Which is why it is disappointing that the evidence put forward by the company did not conclusively demonstrate the degree to which the regulator approved dose of ipilimumab can extend life when compared with current standard care in the NHS.
Sir Andrew Dillon added: â€œWe understand that clinical trials are ongoing that could provide an answer to this important question, and are keen to see the recruitment and continued follow up of patients in these trials encouraged.”
For more details, go to: http://www.nice.org.uk/newsroom/pressreleases/NICEConsultationSkinCancer.jsp