NICE rebuffs Tarceva for NSCLC maintenance
The U.K.'s NICE issued a second preliminary appraisal recommending against Tarceva erlotinib from Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with stable-disease after platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. The decision reiterated an initial appraisal issued in June. NICE continued to estimate the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) to be greater than L50,000 ($77,965) per quality adjusted life year (QALY). NICE conducted the second appraisal after Roche submitted additional clinical and cost-effectiveness data that was not included in its original evidence submission, which occurred before Tarceva had received European approval in the indication in April. ...