NICE Single Technology Appraisal Guidance No 239 –
Fulvestrant for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic
breast cancer
This NICE guidance was published on14th December
2011. The web reference for the appraisal and other related
documents is:
http://guidance.nice.org.uk/TA239
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 (114/04) on
this medication for this indication in August 2004. This stated
that:
Fulvestrant is not recommended for use within
NHS Scotland for the treatment of postmenopausal women with
advanced breast cancer who relapse or progress following prior
anti-oestrogen therapy. Fulvestrant is no more effective than
aromatase inhibitors when used following the failure of tamoxifen,
and it is approximately four times more expensive. There are no
randomised clinical data on the use of fulvestrant following
failure of aromatase inhibitors.
Access the advice of SMC: http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/files/fulvestrant__Faslodex_.pdf
3. There is no material difference between the
recommendations of the NICE STA and SMC.
If you need further assistance, please contact
Eleanor Brownlee in the first instance (tel 0141 225 6873 or email
eleanor.brownlee@nhs.net).
Published Date: 14 December 2011
