NICE Draft Guidance: Rejects Keytruda In Head & Neck Cancer, Xospata In AML

But Positive On Lynparza And Ibrance In Certain Settings

A series of decisions on anticancer drugs from the UK’s NICE will act as a reminder to drug developers excited by potential breakthroughs that health technology assessment has become an exacting filter for new medicines to pass through.  

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The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has rejected several anticancer agents, and indicated that local clinical practice has still to be taken into account when introducing medicines – decisions which may act as a reality check to biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

The decisions include the rejection of the use of Merck & Co. Inc.’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as a first-line therapy...

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