NICE recommends Pfizer's Xalkori after company drops price

18 August 2016

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued second draft guidance which recommends US pharma giant Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) Xalkori (crizotinib) for some people with lung cancer.

This is a change from an earlier decision from the cost-effectiveness watchdog for England and Wales, after the company further discounted the drug, and a welcome change from the many rejections of expensive cancer drugs by the NICE. (See also separate story today on negative decisions for Afinitor and Imbruvica).

Crizotinib is the first pill for people with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Previously patients’ only option was intravenous chemotherapy given every three weeks. Taking a tablet means people avoid hospital which in turn frees up staff.

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