Negative NICE news for Pfizer leukemia drug

16 July 2013

There was disappointment for global drugs behemoth Pfizer (NYSE: OFE) when the UK drugs watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) today (July 16) issued new preliminary draft guidance that does not recommend the company’s Bosulif (bosutinib) for previously treated chronic myeloid leukemia on the National Health Service.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a cancer of the myeloid cells. It develops slowly, over the course of many years and it is estimated that about 560 people are diagnosed in the UK each year. The median age at diagnosis is 60 years. Bosutinib is licensed for the treatment of CML in those for whom imatinib, nilotinib and dasatinib are not appropriate. The Preliminary draft guidance is now open for consultation.

Bosulif, which was approved in Europe earlier this year (The Pharma Letter March 28) and in the USA last year (TPL September 6, 2012), is expected to reach peak global sales of around $340 million in 2016, according to the average forecast of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters.

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