8 May 2019 - The focus now shifts to when will the PTAC recommendation be implemented.

In February 2019, the PTAC considered the funding of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for use as monotherapy by patients with metastatic, unresectable, stage III and IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours express programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) at a level of ≥ 50% in a first-line setting for EGFR wild-type patients.

The Committee recommended that pembrolizumab as monotherapy be funded with medium priority for previously untreated advanced PD-L1 positive EGFR wild-type NSCLC noting that uncertainty remained regarding the magnitude of benefit from treatment in this setting and the current high price.

As usual, the recommendation has been referred to CaTSOP for further advice; a classic and fast becoming a very tiring stalling tactic.

Read PTAC recommendation for pembrolizumab