NICE ISSUES GUIDANCE ON MABTHERA, TAXOTERE

The UK's National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance to the National Health Service (NHS) in England in Wales recommending Roche's MabThera (rituximab), within its licensed indications, as an option for the treatment of patients with symptomatic Stage III and IV follicular lymphoma who have previously been untreated.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, of which follicular lymphomas are one type, are a diverse group of tumors that affect the lymphatic system. The aims of treatment are to achieve remission during relapse and to alleviate symptoms. As the disease progresses and symptoms occur, initial current treatment is started in the form of single-agent therapy, usually with an oral alkylating agent such as chlorambucil. Combination therapies CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisolone) and CHOP (cyclophosphamine, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone) are also currently used as first-line treatments. Rituximab is licensed as a treatment for previously untreated Stage III and IV follicular lymphoma in combination with CVP.

NICE has also issued a recommendation to the NHS on the use of sanofi aventis' Taxotere (docetaxel) for the treatment of early breast cancer following surgery. Docetaxel, given concurrently with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (the TAC regimen) in accordance with its licensed indication, is recommended as an option for the treatment of women with early node-positive breast cancer following surgery.