Posted by Michael Wonder on 20 Sep 2017
Nivolumab now available for lung cancer after company offers NICE new CDF deal
20 September 2017 - Around 1,300 lung cancer patients will receive nivolumab as part of a CDF deal put forward by makers Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Nivolumab has been widely described as a breakthrough drug. When NICE first reviewed it, they said the evidence was not strong enough to recommend nivolumab for routine NHS use.
However, as nivolumab appeared to be more effective in some patients, NICE asked Bristol-Myers Squibb to make it available with a discount whilst clinical trials were ongoing. In November 2016, two patients submitted petitions with a total of 270,000 signatures urging NICE to approve the drug.
