Roche receives final NICE guidance for Herceptin

NICE has issued final guidance allowing Herceptin, the Roche drug, to become available throughout the NHS for the treatment of early-stage HER-2 positive breast cancer.

The regulatory institute has recommended the drug except in cases where there are concerns about a woman’s cardiac function. NICE says the drug should be administered at three-week intervals for one year, or until disease recurrence – whichever is sooner.

Andrew Dillon, NICE’s chief executive, said the decision was based on a clinical and cost-effectiveness analysis, adding that the guidance was issued “rapidly” to ensure consistent use across the NHS.

He remarked: “We plan to continue appraising certain technologies rapidly and close to when they are licensed for the benefit of both the NHS, patients and their carers.”

Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the charity, stated it was delighted with NICE’s decision.

The charity’s Dr Sarah Rawlings commented: “We have at last come to the end of a long journey to ensure access to this vital drug for women who could benefit…”

“[We] hope that today’s announcement reassures those primary care trusts who initially reserved their decision to prescribe the drug until final guidance was issued,” she concluded.

Primary care trusts now have three months to implement NICE’s final guidance, although Breakthrough Breast Cancer is urging all trusts to allow prescription as soon as possible.

Previously, Herceptin had been approved only for the treatment of advanced HER-2 positive breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease that accounts for approximately a fifth of all breast cancers.

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