NICE funding rejected for Lenvima and Nexavar in thyroid cancer

Regulators at NICE have published draft guidelines rejecting funding for Lenvima (lenvatinib), from Eisai, and Nexavar (sorafenib), from Bayer HealthCare, for treating patients with advanced differentiated thyroid cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and cannot be operated on, in adults whose disease does not respond to radioactive iodine. NICE added that both drugs are effective in delaying disease progression compared to best supportive care, but argues there is uncertainty in establishing longer term survival.

It added that the incremental cost effectiveness ratios were considerably higher than that normally considered to be cost effective to recommend for routine NHS use. Currently there are no clinical trials underway which could inform on overall survival benefit. This means that neither drug can be considered for inclusion in the Cancer Drugs Fund.