NICE Single Technology Appraisal Guidance No162
NICE Single Technology Appraisal Guidance
No162 – Erlotinib for the
treatment of non-small cell lung cancer - the Scottish
Medicines Consortium (SMC) published advice on this medication for
this indication following a resubmission in May 2006:
Erlotinib
(Tarceva®) is accepted for
restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of patients
with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer,
after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. When
prescribing erlotinib, factors associated with prolonged survival
should be taken into account. No survival benefit or other
clinically relevant effect of the treatment have been demonstrated
in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-negative
tumours. Erlotinib is restricted to use in patients who would
otherwise be eligible for treatment with docetaxel monotherapy. No
economic case has been made for those whose performance status
would make them ineligible to receive docetaxel.
Access the advice of the Scottish Medicines
Consortium:
http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/smc/files/erlotinib(Tarceva)Resubmission(220-05).pdf
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 Hana Bystronova, tel 0131 623 4287 or
email hana.bystronova@nhs.net).
Published Date: 26 November 2008
