The UK’s reimbursement watchdog has decided against recommending Eli Lilly & Co.’s Alimta (pemetrexed) for uptake into the publicly-funded NHS for maintenance treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While cost effectiveness considerations were behind the preliminary rejection, the decision of Feb. 22 raises concerns about the appropriateness and purpose of NICE’s end-of-life criteria.
As far as the clinical effectiveness of Alimta goes, NICE likes what it sees and already knows quite a bit...