BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

NICE backs Esbriet for subgroup

March 21, 2013 12:15 AM UTC

The U.K.'s NICE issued a final appraisal determination (FAD) recommending the use of Esbriet pirfenidone from InterMune Inc. (NASDAQ:ITMN) to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in a subgroup of patients with a forced vital capacity (FVC) of 50-80% of predicted FVC. The committee estimated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for Esbriet in this subgroup would be L24,000 ($36,216) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), which NICE said was cost-effective. NICE estimated that there are 6,800 patients in this subgroup. The recommendation, which is contingent on InterMune providing Esbriet at an undisclosed discount under a patient access scheme, reverses draft guidance issued in November recommending against the drug to treat mild to moderate IPF in all patients. Final guidance is expected in April (see BioCentury Extra, Nov. 29, 2012). ...