NICE rejects adjuvant Glivec for GIST

The U.K.'s NICE issued a final appraisal determination recommending against use of Glivec imatinib from Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) for adjuvant treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) after surgery. NICE said the evidence was "too immature" to draw conclusions about clinical effectiveness of adjuvant Glivec. NICE said greater certainty about the clinical and cost effectiveness of adjuvant Glivec would not be achievable until data from ongoing trials have been reported. In a March preliminary appraisal, NICE requested further clarification of existing data, including revised cost-effectiveness analyses (See BioCentury Extra, Friday, March 26, 2010). ...