NICE publishes final guidelines recommending Imbruvica (ibrutinib) for patients with 17p deletion or TP53 mutation chronic lymphocytic leukaemia- Janssen

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published final guidelines endorsing Imbruvica (ibrutinib), from Janssen, to treat some patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). NICE has approved funding the drug for use in patients who have had at least one prior therapy or who have a 17p deletion or TP53 mutation, and in whom chemo-immunotherapy is unsuitable.

One year's treatment with the drug costs more than £55,000 per patient (excluding the discount agreed in the patient access scheme) and had only previously been available through the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).

This decision follows an earlier negative decision by NICE in March 2016.