Dive Brief:
- There is no cure for multiple myeloma, a form of blood caner.
- NICE asserts that there have been no clinical studies assessing the efficacy of Revlimid, compared with other treatments.
- Myeloma UK has expressed disappointment in NICE’s decision.
Dive Insight:
At the heart of NICE’s decision to reconsider its approval of Revlimid is the fear that it may not be the most cost-effective treatment option for multiple myeloma. In response to the decision, Eric Low, CEO of Myeloma UK said, “While there may be a lack of clinical trial evidence and uncertainty around its cost-effectiveness, there is no question about [Revlimid's] role in clinical practice in this setting. We strongly feel that it is now up to NICE and Celgene to come up with a solution and to make Revlimid available to the myeloma patients who need it, as a matter of urgency.”