NICE rebuffs Zytiga in chemotherapy-naïve CRPC patients

The U.K.'s NICE issued Zytiga abiraterone from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) in chemotherapy-naïve patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC); it is approved in the EU and U.S. for those patients. NICE said the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) estimated by both J&J and the committee were "substantially" above the range normally considered cost-effective. The Evidence Review Group estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of L57,200 ($96,519) to L74,800 ($126,218). J&J said it would work with NICE to address the agency's concerns and added that it believes NICE should have taken into account end-of-life considerations. In the guidance, the committee concluded that end-of-life criteria did not apply since the mean life expectancy for the population was "unlikely" to be less than 30 months. Comments are due June 5. ...