NICE backs Abraxane for pancreatic cancer regime

Today, UK medicines cost-effectiveness watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the use of nab-paclitaxel in combination with gemcitabine, in eligible patients, for the first-line treatment of a type of metastatic pancreatic cancer, known as metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC).

This decision means that nab-paclitaxel, marketed as Abraxane by the local subsidiary of US biotech Celgene (Nasdaq; CELG) in combination with gemcitabine is now an option for mPDAC adult patients in England via the National Health Service when other combination chemotherapies are unsuitable and they would otherwise have gemcitabine monotherapy. The treatment will be available immediately for eligible patients in England via the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).

Dr Stephen Falk, consultant clinical oncologist, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust and Chair of the NCRI Pancreatic Cancer Subgroup comments: “Today’s recommendation is welcomed by the clinical community as well as families affected by metastatic pancreatic cancer - this is a disease that has seen few therapeutic advances in recent years and life expectancy remains extremely poor. It is very reassuring that NICE has decided to recommend nab-Paclitaxel in combination with gemcitabine for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer, and I also welcome the potential of extra survival this regimen may offer to the right patient compared to gemcitabine alone.”