NICE Single Technology Appraisal Guidance No 176 – Cetuximab
for the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer
This NICE Guidance was published on 26 August
2009. The web reference for the appraisal and other related
documents is: http://www.nice.org.uk/TA176
NHSScotland should note that:
1. Recommendations of NICE Single Technology
Appraisals (STAs) have no status in NHSScotland.
2. NHS boards should adhere to the Scottish
Medicines Consortium (SMC) advice:
SMC published a Statement of Advice (543/09) on
this medication for this indication in February 2010. This
stated:
Cetuximab (Erbitux®) is accepted
for restricted use within NHSScotland for the treatment of patients
with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing, Kirsten
rat sarcoma (KRAS) wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer in
combination with chemotherapy. Cetuximab is restricted to use in
patients who have not previously received chemotherapy for their
metastatic disease, with liver metastases only that are considered
non-resectable but in whom potentially curative liver metastasis
resection would be undertaken if the lesions became resectable
after treatment with chemotherapy and cetuximab.
This SMC advice takes account of the benefits
of a Patient Access Scheme.
Access the advice of SMC:
3. There is no material difference between the
recommendations of the NICE STA and SMC.
Published Date: 26 August 2009
