NICE rejects Halaven (Eisai) for Breast Cancer

NICE, the health technology appraisal institute for England and Wales has rejected Halaven (eribulin) from Eisai for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in patients whose disease has progressed after at least two chemotherapeutic regimens. The rejection comes after a failed appeal from Eisai against the final draft recommendations. Evidence indicated that Halaven might help some patients live "a little longer", but undesirable side effects and concern that effects on health related quality of life had not been properly assessed and led to a rejection from the committee.