NICE Asks Janssen for More Data for Multiple Myeloma Drug
The UK's cost containment agency, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), has issued draft guidance asking Janssen to provide more data on the effectiveness of bortezomib (Velcade) for treating patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
NICE is evaluating the use of bortezomib in combination with dexamethasone and thalidomide, and has also requested further evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of the bortezomib/dexamethasone combination compared with the current standard treatment for newly diagnosed patients of high dose chemotherapy with a combination of cyclophosphamide, thalidomide and dexamethasone, together with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
The draft guidance does not currently recommend bortezomib in combination with thalidomide and dexamethasone.