27 July 2016 - NICE has issued final guidance recommending Shire’s Oncaspar (pegaspargase) and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) as a treatment option for some people with leukaemia and for patients with advanced melanoma, respectively.

Shire acquired Oncaspar as part of their $20 billion acquisition of Baxalta, and the drug has been indicated as part of a combination therapy to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in people who have been newly diagnosed and have not received treatment yet.

The condition affects children more than adults, and it is expected that 650 patients each year will be eligible for treatment with Oncaspar. As part of combination therapy, the cost of the drug is between £5,144 and £15,246, depending on the severity of the condition, in children and young adults. For adults, the cost varies between £6,034 and £7,544.

Sunjeet Sawhney, director of oncology at Shire UK, says: “This is a very important recommendation from NICE that will benefit acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients, regardless of age, giving them continued access to an integral component of the treatment regimen. We are delighted that NICE has recognised the importance and cost effectiveness of current practice, further reinforcing the value of the drug.”

For Bristol-Myers Squibb, the final guidance recommending Opdivo plus Yervoy in advanced melanoma is the fastest ever approval NICE has carried out, with only 24 working days between the combination receiving marketing authorisation and final draft guidance.

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