Disappointment for Brain Cancer Patients as NHS Rejects Promising Drug
Patients with brain cancer have expressed disappointment after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) rejected the use of vorasidenib on the NHS.
Despite patients in clinical trials reporting remarkable results, including shrinking tumors, Nice has published draft guidance turning down the drug due to uncertainties in economic data and lack of clarity on overall survival improvement.
Vorasidenib is intended for people aged 12 or over who have had surgery for types of low-grade glioma with either the IDH1 or IDH2 genetic mutations.
- The drug slows or stops tumor growth in some patients.
- Clinical trial participants have reported significant results.
- Nice rejected the drug due to economic and survival data concerns.
Author's summary: NHS rejects promising brain cancer drug vorasidenib.