NICE Recommends Vizimpro as Lung Cancer Treatment

The UK’S National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended Pfizer’s Vizimpro (dacomitinib) for National Health Service coverage as a first-line treatment for patients with a type of non-small-cell lung cancer.

The once-a-day pill will be available for adults with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who test positive for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation.

Results from clinical trials showed that patients who took dacomitinib had longer overall survival rates than those who took gefitinib. But dacomitinib had a higher incidence of side effects, so a lower dose may be needed, NICE said.

The institute initially found the drug to be not cost-effective for NHS use. “Responsible pricing by the company has allowed our committee to reconsider their initial decision,” said Meindert Boysen, director of NICE’s Centre for Health Technology Evaluation.