Pfizer objects to NICE methods in leukaemia drug rejection

NICE has caused controversy by rejecting Pfizer’s Besponsa – a blood cancer drug that can give patients the chance to receive a potentially curative bone marrow transplant. Experts said Besponsa (inotuzumab ozogamicin) could revolutionise management of patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). NICE’s ‘no’ comes less than two months after the drug was approved in Europe. Pfizer said that NICE in final draft guidance has inappropriately assessed the value of the medicine, which is indicated for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell CD22-positive disease. Experts in a statement sent out by Pfizer said that NICE’s cost estimates for Besponsa were too high because calculations were based on doctors using six courses of the drug.