NICE Says Fulvestrant Benefits Too Uncertain to be Cost Effective in Breast Cancer

The U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said the evidence for using fulvestrant chemotherapy to treat a type of breast cancer does not prove it prolongs survival more than existing, less expensive treatments.

The draft guidance focuses on postmenopausal women with estrogen-receptor-positive, locally advanced breast cancer or metastatic breast cancer, who have not had hormonal treatments. NICE estimated that around 1,200 patients in England would be eligible for fulvestrant treatment.

Until final guidance is issued, NHS bodies should make decisions locally about its funding, NICE said. The draft guidance is open for public consultation until Sept. 25.