Celgene says its Abraxane to treat pancreatic cancer is off cancer drugs fund starting today

4 November 2015

US biotech firm Celgene Corp (Nasdaq: CELG) on Wednesday said its Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) in combination with gemcitabine to treat pancreatic cancer will no longer be available via the England's Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF), starting today.

This marks the end of National Health Service access to the treatment in England, following the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issuing final guidance, on October 28, 2015, not recommending Abraxane in combination with gemcitabine for adults with previously untreated metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (metastatic pancreatic cancer).

Celgene said the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) both accepted Abraxane in combination with gemcitabine for use in their countries, for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

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