NICE Backs Novartis’ Melanoma Drug Combo for Reimbursement

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is recommending reimbursement of Novartis’ drug combination Mekinist and Tafinlar for treating unresectable or metastatic melanoma in patients with BRAF V600 mutations.

NICE determined the drug provides sufficient value to merit coverage because Novartis pledged to a pricing discount. The list price combination is $14,713 per patient for 28 days of treatment.

NICE concluded that the combination was effective versus traditional BRAF inhibitor monotherapies, meeting all criteria to be considered a life-extending and end-of-life treatment.