NICE U-turn means patients maintain access to Takeda's Adcetris

The UK subsidiary of Japan’s largest drugmaker, Takeda Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4502), has been successful in maintaining ongoing access to Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) on the National Health Service, with positive decisions from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in two out of the three R/R Hodgkin lymphoma patient populations assessed.

This decision follows hard work, flexibility and determination from Takeda, supported by the clinical and patient community, in response to two previous draft negative recommendations from the NICE, said Takeda UK. The final guidance from the NICE will ensure that access is maintained to a vital standard of care treatment for adults with R/R CD30+ve Hodgkin lymphoma in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Within the final appraisal determination (FAD), the NICE has approved long-term funding for brentuximab vedotin for the treatment of adult patients with CD30+ve R/R Hodgkin lymphoma following an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). This means that clinicians will have guaranteed long-term access to brentuximab vedotin for this patient population via baseline commissioning. This recommendation is reliant on the company providing brentuximab vedotin at the price agreed with NHS England in the commercial access agreement.