A new first-line treatment option – dacomitinib – is to be made available on the NHS in England for people with non-small cell lung cancer, that has tested positive for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. This is a relatively uncommon type of lung cancer.
A new first-line treatment option – dacomitinib – is to be made available on the NHS in England for people with non-small cell lung cancer, that has tested positive for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. This is a relatively uncommon type of lung cancer.
Dacomitinib, which is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), is also known by the trade-name Vizimpro®. It comes in the form of a pill, taken once a day. The manufacturers estimate that around 1,477 people will be eligible for this treatment annually.
Clinical trial results showed that it compares well with other available treatments for this indication, although more patients have reported side effects, which may mean a lower dose might be preferable in some cases.
Our chief executive, Paula Chadwick, sees this decision by NICE as a positive development.
She said, “For patients with this specific type of lung cancer, and for their families and loved ones, this news is very welcome. It represents a new therapy option and may offer them the chance of more time and a better quality of life.
“As it’s an oral treatment, it also allows people to carry on with their daily lives.
“We are delighted that we now see more and more new treatments becoming available to lung cancer patients. We are proud to stand with them, representing their interests in the approval process.
Paula Chadwick, Chief Executive
“We are very pleased that NICE has decided to approve this treatment.” NICE has already recommended three other drugs of this type for untreated EGFR-positive NSCLC: afatinib (which has the tradename Giotrif®), erlotinib (tradename Tarceva®) and gefitinib (tradename Iressa®).
If you are affected by this decision and want more information, you can call our Ask the Nurse service on 0800 358 7200, email lungcancerhelp@roycastle.org, or download information about treatment options at here
The announcement by NICE, on their website: https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/life-extending-lung-cancer-treatment-recommended-for-use-on-the-nhs
