NICE draft guidance now approves Xalkori in ROS1+ non-small-cell lung cancer.- Pfizer.

Following on from a negative response in January, the UK NICE has published draft guidance recommending that Xalkori (crizotinib), from Pfizer, is made available via the Cancer Drugs Fund for ROS1+ advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

The NICE appraisal committee had originally concluded that though Xalkori seems a promising treatment, there was only limited data hence accurate cost-effectiveness estimates could not be made. The result was that Pfizer has agreed to gather further data. With the latest positive decision, ROS1 diagnostic testing will also be available in England. Meanwhile studies indicate ROS1+ occurs in less than 1% of NSCLC patients.