Nicholas Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure early access for the immuno-oncology treatment nivolumab for both lung cancer and melanoma.
George Freeman
Nivolumab (Opdivo) received a positive scientific opinion under the early access to medicines scheme for melanoma in May 2015 and for lung cancer in June 2015. Nivolumab was subsequently licensed for the treatment of advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma in June 2015 and for locally advanced or metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer after prior chemotherapy in July 2015.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing technology appraisal guidance on the use of nivolumab for the treatment of:
– advanced, unresectable, metastatic melanoma – final guidance expected in May 2016;
– non-small-cell, squamous, metastatic lung cancer (after chemotherapy) – final guidance expected in May 2016; and
– untreated, advanced, unresectable, metastatic melanoma (with ipilimumab) – final guidance expected September 2016.
Commissioners are legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisal guidance within three months of its final guidance being issued. In the absence of guidance from NICE, it is for commissioners to make decisions on whether to fund new medicines based on an assessment of the available evidence.
We take the issue of ensuring rapid access to innovative therapies very seriously, which is why we have launched an independent Accelerated Access Review to make recommendations to Government on speeding up access for National Health Service patients to innovative and cost effective new medicines, diagnostics, medical technologies and digital products. The review published its interim report on 27 October 2015 and its full report and recommendations are expected in spring 2016.
