NICE recommends against abemaciclib for untreated breast cancer

The U.K.'s NICE issued draft guidance recommending against the use of Verzenio abemaciclib from Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) in combination with an aromatase inhibitor for untreated advanced hormone-receptor positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

NICE said that Verzenio is as effective as both Kisqali ribociclib from Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) and Ibrance palbociclib from Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), which NICE already recommends to treat HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer as initial hormone therapy. However, the committee said once patient access schemes are taken into account, Verzenio is not cost effective relative to the others...