Germany's IQWiG finds in favor of Yervoy but not Benlysta or Fampyra

The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) in the past few days issued a mixed batch of opinions for backing the use three drugs under Germany’s new legislation, the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG).

First up, viewing the added benefit or otherwise of US drug major Bristol-Myers Squibb’s (NYSE: BMY) Yervoy (ipilimumab), a treatment approved since August 2011 for the treatment of adult patients with advanced melanoma, the IQWiG concluded that the drug offers major advantages with respect to overall survival, but is accompanied by major potential harm in the form of side effects. The overall conclusion is that ipilimumab offers considerable added benefit.

As specified by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), which makes the final decision, ipilimumab was to be compared with so-called "best supportive care." This means the best possible supportive therapy, optimized for the individual patient, which guarantees alleviation of the symptoms and improvement in the quality of life.