NICE Rejects AbbVie’s Leukemia Treatment

AbbVie’s leukemia medication Venclyxto (venetoclax) was shot down by NICE for coverage by the National Health Service.

NICE’s draft guidance didn’t recommend that the NHS cover the chemotherapy-free treatment, Venclyxto plus rituximab, for treating relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia in adult patients, noting that the cost-effectiveness of the combination drug was called into question.

AbbVie UK’s General Manager, Jerome Bouyer, said the company will continue to work with NICE to facilitate NHS access to venetoclax plus rituximab as quickly as possible via routine commissioning or the Cancer Drugs Fund.