Described as 'breakthrough' drugs, both palbociclib and ribociclib have been shown to slow down advanced cancer for at least 10 months and can also delay the need for chemotherapy giving thousands of women the chance to live a normal life for longer.
It is estimated that around 8,000 people in England will be eligible for treatment with either of them each year on the National Health Service after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved them, having negotiated prices with the manufacturers.
We've recommended palbociclib and ribociclib, two life-extending drugs to treat breast cancer, for routine funding after new deal: https://t.co/9vElluyvPj pic.twitter.com/KyHPmc0yHx
— NICE (@NICEcomms) November 16, 2017
Palbociclib had earlier been rejected because of its high cost. One cycle of palbociclib — or 21 capsules — costs £2,950 (US$3894), while 63 tablets of ribociclib will be around the same.
Fantastic News
Although these 'life-changing' drugs will only initially be made available in England, it is hoped that they will quickly be rolled out to breast cancer victims across the rest of the UK, according to Melanie Sturtevant, policy manager at the charity Breast Cancer Now.
"Palbociclib and ribociclib represent an exciting new generation of medicines capable of slowing the spread of incurable breast cancer, giving women significant extra time before their condition progresses — time that will be truly invaluable to them and their loved ones," she told Sputnik.
Normally drugs approved by NICE should be funded within two months of recommendation in Wales, while in Scotland a decision for palbociclib is expected next month, and ribociclib early next year. In the case of patients in Northern Ireland, implementation can take much longer.
The policy manager said the charity is now urging manufacturers and national bodies in other parts of the UK to ensure women can access these ground-breaking drugs as quickly as possible.
The treatments are designed to help women with oestrogen-receptor positivebreast cancer, where the growth of tumors is fueled by the hormone oestrogen which involves around two-thirds of cases of breast cancer.
New Type of Drug
The two medications are the first of a new type of drug shown to slow down the progression of cancer by inhibiting two proteins — CDK 4 and 6.
The Institute of Cancer Research — along with the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London — led the major clinical trial into palbociclib.
Our big news story from yesterday concerned our response to @NICEcomms approval of two new breakthrough drugs for women with advanced #breastcancer https://t.co/QXPALcVWgu pic.twitter.com/K8CPvjStiy
— The ICR (@ICR_London) November 17, 2017
Nicholas Turner, professor of molecular oncology at the ICR and consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden, said the development of this brand new class of cancer drug is one of the most important breakthroughs for women with advanced breast cancer in the last two decades.
"In clinical trials, palbociclib and ribociclib have made a huge difference to women's lives — slowing down tumor growth for nearly a year, and delaying the need for chemotherapy with all its potentially debilitating side effects. These drugs have allowed women to live a normal life for longer," said the professor.
Confidential Agreement
Craig Eagle, head of oncology at Pfizer UK, which manufactured palociclib, said the tablet helps control and slow the cancer for up to two years, bringing that extra time for patients in the prime of their life. He said it was correct that the company had first offered the drug at a price that was rejected by NICE, but they had later come to a "confidential agreement around the price."
ICR's Prof Nick Turner is due on @5_News at 5pm & 6.30pm tonight speaking about today's approval by @NICEcomms of a new type of treatment for women with previously untreatable advanced #breastcancer https://t.co/ueRoCUYnwj pic.twitter.com/3eS8m7U4Uv
— The ICR (@ICR_London) November 16, 2017
The charity Breast Cancer Now has said it will be now be writing to the manufacturers and relevant government departments urging them to ensure that palbociclib is made routinely available on the NHS across the UK as soon as possible.
Others to Follow
In Wales, drugs approved by NICE should be funded within two months of the date NICE recommends them. In Northern Ireland, the department of health, social security and public safety review the decision on whether it should be implemented there.
In Scotland, the Scottish Medicines Consortium is currently considering both medicines for routine use. A decision on palbociclib is expected in December, 2017, while a decision on ribociclib is expected in early 2018.
