Lilly’s Lartruvo approved for inclusion in Cancer Drugs Fund

Lilly's cancer therapy Lartruvo has been ratified by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for inclusion in England's Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).

The drug has been accepted as a treatment for sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that affects tissues of the body that surround body organs. It is expected that around 450 patients will be eligible to receive the olaratumab-based therapy.

Recent changes to the CDF scheme in England means NICE is able to approve drugs that early studies have shown to be effective, but where more data is needed to demonstrate their long-term benefits.

Lilly has agreed to make Lartruvo available under special arrangements with NHS England, which will see further data collected while the drug is funded at a discounted price.

People with advanced sarcoma usually live for 12 to 16 months after standard treatment, but ongoing trials have suggested that Lilly's drug can give people an extra 11.8 months of life, which is unprecedented.

Professor Carole Longson, director of the NICE centre for health technology evaluation, said: "With the changes that were made to the CDF, we are issuing guidance earlier than any other country in Europe."

With over 20 years of experience within the pharmaceutical market, we at Zenopa have the knowledge, skills and expertise to help find the right job for you. To find out more about the current pharmaceutical roles we have available, you can search for the latest job roles, register your details, or contact the team today.