NICE (Single) Technology Appraisal Guidance No 116 Gemcitabine
for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) published advice on this
medication for this indication in November 2006:
Gemcitabine, in combination with paclitaxel, is accepted for
restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of patients
with metastatic breast cancer who have relapsed following
adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Prior chemotherapy should have
included an anthracycline unless clinically contraindicated.
In this case, there is no material difference between the NICE
STA No 116 (http://www.nice.org.uk/TA116)
and the SMC recommendation.
NHSScotland should note that:
- NHS Boards should continue to adhere to the SMC advice.
- The new NICE single technology appraisal process is being
monitored by NHS Quality
Improvement Scotland, Scottish Executive Health Department and SMC
for a period of time. During this period recommendations of NICE
STAs will be only for noting by NHS Scotland in the knowledge that
SMC have already issued advice on the medicine which NHSScotland
should follow.
Published Date: 24 January 2007
