UK NICE draft guidance recommends Ferring’s Firmagon for prostate cancer

UK drugs watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued new draft guidance recommending National Health Service use of privately-held Swiss drugmaker Ferring Pharmaceutical’s Firmagon (degarelix) as an option for treating prostate cancer in people with spinal metastases who are at risk of impending spinal cord compression.

Commenting on the draft guidance, Carole Longson, director, Centre for Health Technology Evaluation at the NICE, said:“Degarelix is a hormone therapy drug that is used to treat advanced prostate cancer. The [Appraisal] Committee heard from the clinical specialists and patients that degarelix provides an important benefit for people with cancer that has spread to the spine and are at risk of impending spinal cord compression.”

Presents another treatment option

Prof Longson noted that prostate cancer is common – with more than 37,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in England and Wales. The NICE has already recommended a number of treatments for the disease including abiraterone (Johnson & Johnson’s Zytiga) and enzalutamide (Astellas’ Xtandi), and “we are pleased to be able to recommend another treatment option.”

Consultees, including the manufacturer, health care professionals and members of the public are now able to comment on the preliminary recommendations which are available for public consultation. Comments received during this consultation will be fully considered by the Committee and following this meeting the next draft guidance will be issued.  

The evidence considered by the Appraisal Committee indicated that degarelix is a cost-effective use of NHS resources for treating advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer only in people with spinal metastases who are at risk of impending spinal cord compression.