Though vemurafenib or Zelboraf, the brand name under which Roche sold it, was rejected by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) earlier, a recent report has revealed that the drug watchdog has approved the drug for use in the NHS.
Nice had turned down the drug in June for the reason that it was too expensive. It cost some ?1,750 per week, with some ?91,000 every year. Also, it was proved to offer only some months' extra life to people with metastatic melanoma. It was known to melt tumours in a few weeks' period.
But, Roche was then asked to provide more data on the drug's efficacy and the same led Nice to conclude that the drug is able to extend one's life by three months. However, other drugs also did it but these did not allow living extra for this much period.
With it, the drug also was offered on discount to the NHS, which proved its cost-effectiveness. However, some still say that cancer may return with such drugs after some time of recovery. "If this decision stands, vemurafenib will be available in England on the cancer drugs fund until 2014", said Cancer Research UK's chief clinician Prof. Peter Johnson.
Source: http://topnews.us/content/251470-nice-approves-skin-cancer-drug-nhs
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