NICE rebuffs Yondelis

The U.K.'s NICE issued a preliminary appraisal recommending against the use of Yondelis trabectedin from PharmaMar S.A. (Madrid, Spain) to treat advanced soft tissue sarcoma. The cytotoxic alkaloid that binds the minor groove of DNA is approved to treat advanced soft tissue sarcoma after failure of anthracyclines and ifosfamide, or in patients who are unsuited to receive these agents. Comments are due by July 21. The appraisal can be found at http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=article&o=44723

The appraisal committee's analysis showed an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for Yondelis compared with best supportive care of L61,000 ($100,766) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. It is generally accepted that a technology must have an incremental cost less than or equal to L20,000-L30,000 per QALY for the agency to consider it cost effective. ...