Boehringer Ingelheim sales and marketing update

Germany’s Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) said in a dossier assessment Gilotrif/ Giotrif afatinib from Boehringer had a “major added benefit” in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with exon 19 deletion EGFR mutations and a “hint of minor added benefit” in patients with exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations. IQWiG said it detected a “hint of lesser benefit” in patients with other EGFR mutations.

IQWiG reassessed the drug after a final assessment by Germany’s Federal Joint Commission (G-BA) expired in May. Last year, IQWiG had said that Giotrif provided a “major” benefit to exon 19 deletion patients, a “minor benefit” to L858R substitution patients and no additional benefit for other EGFR mutations (see BioCentury, Feb. 24, 2014). ...