The National Institute of health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Verzenios (abemaciclib) in combination with an aromatase inhibitor (AI) to treat metastatic breast cancer.
Eli Lilly and Company announced on 18 January that the drug is recommended by NICE within its marketing authorisation as an option for treating locally advanced or metastatic, hormone receptor- positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer as first endocrine-based therapy in adults.
The oral CDK4 and CDK6 inhibitor is only recommended only if the company provides it according to the commercial arrangement, the manufacturer added.
As a result of the recommendation, abemaciclib is now available for use in NHS England initially via interim funding by the Cancer Drugs Fund until routine NHS baseline funding is in place.
Senior medical director at Eli Lilly and Company UK and Northern Europe Dr Arash Tahbaz said: “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK3 and despite advancements in medicine, metastatic or advanced breast cancer remains a difficult-to-treat disease. The NICE recommendation allows doctors to offer an additional treatment option for this group of patients.”
