Boehringer Ingelheim reports that following a review by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK, Vargatef (nintedanib) in combination with docetaxel has been recommended for use within the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales. NICE is a UK governmental body responsible for providing guidance on the clinical and cost effectiveness of health technologies, such as new pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals.The drug was okayed for patients with locally advanced metastatic or locally recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of adenocarcinoma histology who have had limited treatment options that have been shown to extend survival after first-line chemotherapy.

NICE has issued a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) for Vargatef and, subject to any appeal by consultees, the FAD may be used as the basis for the institute's guidance on the use of the appraised technology in the NHS in England and Wales.

Vargatef was granted European Union marketing authorization in November 2014 and in combination with docetaxel is indicated for use in adult patients with locally advanced, metastatic or locally recurrent NSCLC of adenocarcinoma tumour histology, after first-line chemotherapy.

Since the launch of Vargatef in January 2015 it has also been: accepted for use without restriction within NHS Scotland, as per its licensed indication; accepted by the Swedish Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency to be subsidized as a treatment of advanced lung cancer patients with adenocarcinoma in combination with docetaxel after first-line chemotherapy; and assessed by the German IQWiG (Institute for Quality and Economic Efficiency in Health Care),which indicated an added benefit for the treatment of advanced lung cancer patients with adenocarcinoma in combination with docetaxel after first-line chemotherapy without brain metastases.

Source: Boehringer Ingelheim