The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has approved the use of a new lung cancer treatment for patients with a rare form of the disease.
People in Scotland with rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer, who have not previously been treated with a RET inhibitor, will be able to have the targeted therapy, pralsetinib.
The recommendation comes after preliminary results from a phase I/II study found patients treated with pralsetinib saw a 64% response rate. However, final study results, as well as comparative study results, are awaited. As a result, the SMC has approved the use of the new targeted therapy on an interim basis. The committee will review the updated evidence when it becomes available.
Paula Chadwick is the chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation:
“It is once again encouraging to see another new treatment option be made available to those living with late-stage lung cancer. It is even more heartening that the SMC have made the decision prior to the final results are published.
People with lung cancer do not have time to wait. They need as many treatment options as possible so they can continue to live well with this disease, safe in the knowledge that if their current treatment line stops working, they have an alternative.
Paula Chadwick, chief executive
Mark MacGregor is the chair of the Scottish Medicines Consortium:
SMC has accepted pralsetinib for use on an interim basis.
“The clinical evidence is promising, but highly uncertain. The committee look forward to reviewing the updated evidence when available to ensure that this treatment offers good value to patients in NHS Scotland.”
Pralsetinib is not currently recommended for patients in England or Wales.
For more information about the announcement, or other treatment options for lung cancer, contact our Ask the Nurse service.