NICE rebuffs Tyverb, Herceptin again

The U.K.'s NICE issued a final appraisal determination (FAD) recommending against Tyverb lapatinib from GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK; NYSE:GSK) and Herceptin trastuzumab from Roche (SIX:ROG; OCTCQX:RHHBY) in combination with an aromatase inhibitor as first-line treatments of metastatic, hormone-receptor and HER2-positive breast cancer. NICE noted that the cost effectiveness of Tyverb and Herceptin is "significantly uncertain" and added that GSK and Roche did not provide convincing evidence of the drugs' clinical effectiveness. The guidance reiterates preliminary draft guidance issued in December. The deadline to appeal NICE's recommendations is July 15 (see BioCentury Extra, Dec. 14, 2010). ...