NICE Gives Keytruda Thumbs Up for Treating Lung Cancer

NICE recommended Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in combination with chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel, for coverage by the NHS England’s Cancer Drugs Fund  as a treatment for lung cancer.

The institute gave its approval to the drug for treatment of squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other areas of the body and hasn’t been targeted by previous treatments.

NICE found that the clinical evidence doesn’t yet show that the combination  therapy is cost-effective, but said it showed “potential” for cost-effectiveness.