NICE rejects cancer drug Avastin

The decision confirmed Nice's preliminary guidance and said the drug offered limited and uncertain benefit for patients compared with existing treatments. It is likely to be seen as a boost to health insurers who offer complete cancer coverage including drugs not covered by the NHS, such as Avastin. Avastin (bevacizumab) was tested working alongside taxane (a type of chemotherapy drug) as a first-line treatment for people with metastatic breast cancer. An independent appraisal committee which developed the guidance for Nice, considered evidence from the manufacturer, clinical exper...