21 August 2017 - NICE has caused controversy by rejecting Pfizer’s Besponsa – a blood cancer drug that can give patients the chance to receive a potentially curative bone marrow transplant.

Experts said Besponsa (inotuzumab ozogamicin) could revolutionise management of patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Experts in a statement sent out by Pfizer said that NICE’s cost estimates for Besponsa were too high because calculations were based on doctors using six courses of the drug.

Professor David Marks, from the Department of Haematology and BMT, at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust said this was a “gross misrepresentation” of clinical practice in the UK.

“This is totally wrong. No patient in the UK will require more than two to three courses of the drug before a potentially curative transplant. Despite NICE being inform.

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