J&J, AbbVie sales and marketing update
The U.K.’s NICE issued draft guidance recommending against the use of Imbruvica ibrutinib from Johnson & Johnson and AbbVie to treat relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). NICE said Imbruvica is clinically effective but its benefits are unclear when compared with current treatment. Additionally, even with an undisclosed discount under a patient access scheme, NICE said Imbruvica’s price was “still substantially above the normal range considered cost-effective.” The recommended dose is four, 140 mg capsules once daily. The list price excluding VAT is L51.10 ($65.91) for 90 and 120 mg. According to the agency, in the base case analysis from J&J, the incremental cost effective ratio (ICER) compared with radiation and chemotherapy was L75,317 ($97,158) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Imbruvica is a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk) inhibitor that covalently binds to cysteine residue 481. ...