NICE Single Technology Appraisal Guidance No 145
NICE Single
Technology Appraisal Guidance No 145 – Cetuximab for the treatment
of locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck -
the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) published advice on this
medication for this indication in July 2006:
Cetuximab (Erbitux®) is accepted for restricted use within NHS
Scotland in combination with radiation therapy for the treatment of
patients with locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and
neck.
It is restricted to patients who are not appropriate for or
unable to tolerate chemo-radiotherapy and who are of good
performance status with no evidence of distant metastases. It is
also restricted to use by specialists in the management of head and
neck cancer.
Access SMC advice
279/06
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 Government
Health Directorates 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.
- Hard copies of NICE appraisals are available from NHS Quality
Improvement Scotland (contact Shonagh Buchanan, tel 0141 225 6993
or email shonagh.buchanan@nhs.net).
Published Date: 25 June 2008
