UK's NICE recommends Xtandi and Yervoy under patient access schemes

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance recommending new prostate cancer drug Xtandi (enzalutamide) and extending the use of Yervoy (ipilimumab) for skin cancer for use on the National Health Service.

NICE has recommended that Yervoy, from US drug major Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) is made available as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced malignant melanoma when the full tumor cannot be removed or the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Carole Longson, centre for health technology evaluation director at NICE, said: “We are pleased to confirm that enzalutamide will be made available through the NHS for patients whose prostate cancer has progressed after previous treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Enzalutamide works in a different way to the other options currently available for treating prostate cancer. As there are few treatments available for patients at this stage of prostate cancer, this is really good news for patients.”

Enzalutamide costs £2,734.67 ($4,672) for a pack of 112 40 mg capsules. Based on a daily dosage of 160mg and a mean length of treatment of 8.5 months, the manufacturer has estimated that the average cost of treatment with enzalutamide, based on the list price, is £25,269. The manufacturer of enzalutamide has agreed a patient access scheme with the Department of Health.