IQWiG finds no added benefit for Xalkori in bronchial carcinoma

After its assessment in 2013, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has reassessed the added benefit of Xalkori (crizotinib) in comparison with the appropriate comparator therapy, concluded that an added benefit of crizotinib for the first-line treatment of advanced bronchial carcinoma is not proven.

Xalkori, from US pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), has been available since 2012 for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (bronchial carcinoma) who have a high activity of the enzyme anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and have already received another treatment. In November 2015, the approval was extended to first-line treatment.

Advanced bronchial carcinoma can only be treated palliatively. The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) specified several appropriate comparator therapies for this. Either cisplatin in combination with a third-generation cytostatic agent was to be used in the control arm, or – in case of an increased risk of cisplatin side effects – carboplatin with a third-generation cytostatic agent. Monotherapy with gemcitabine or vinorelbine was an alternative option for patients with already severe limitations.