NICE Nixes NHS Funding for Takeda Lung Cancer Drug

The UK’s National Institute for health and Care Excellence recommended against NHS funding for Takeda’s lung cancer treatment Alunbrig (brigatinib). The drug is indicated for anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in adults already taking Pfizer’s Xalkori (crizotinib).

NICE concluded that while clinical evidence suggests improved longevity for patients taking the drug rather than with the standard of care, the company makes “clinically implausible” assumptions about the length of treatment benefit.

NICE also concluded that the treatment has a cost-effectiveness estimate above what it considers acceptable for an end-of-life treatment and it could not recommend it for routine use through the national health service.