ICER evaluates NSCLC therapies' cost-effectiveness

In a draft evidence report evaluating non-small cell lung cancer drugs, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review found that three marketed tyrosine kinase inhibitors' cost-effectiveness appeared to fall within "commonly-accepted thresholds." ICER also found that three mAbs against PD-1 or PD-L1 were outside the range of cost-effectiveness, but stressed that variability in those drugs' overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) benefits led to uncertainty about the cost-effectiveness estimates used in ICER's analysis.

ICER evaluated the TKIs Gilotrif afatinib, Tarceva erlotinib and Iressa gefitinib compared to cisplatin plus Alimta pemetrexed as first-line therapies for EGFR-positive NSCLC. It compared anti-PD-L1 mAb Tecentriq atezolizumab and anti-PD-1 mAbs Opdivo nivolumab and Keytruda pembrolizumab vs. docetaxel as second-line therapies for EGFR-negative NSCLC. ...