Axitinib (Inlyta) recommended as a second line kidney cancer treatment within NHS Scotland

Kidney Cancer Treatment recommended within NHS Scotland

Kidney Cancer Scotland is delighted at today’s news from the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) that axitinib (Inlyta) has been recommended for use within NHS Scotland for the second line treatment of adults with advanced renal cell carcinoma after failure of prior treatment with sunitinib (Sutent) or a cytokine. We welcome this positive decision which
gives renewed hope to patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who are no longer responding to first line kidney cancer treatment, and will help to extend the precious time that they have with their family and loved ones. This decision also gives Kidney Cancer Scotland faith in the decision making policy employed by the SMC to enable access to the drugs that are needed by all patients with rarer conditions in Scotland.

Over 9,000 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year in the UK, making it the eighth most common cancer in adults. Of these, about a third have advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Standard practice for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma is surgery followed by first line treatment with sunitinib or pazopanib. These treatments have given patients hope but at the cost of severe side effects and limited progression free survival. Sunitinib and pazopanib can both keep the disease at bay and extend life by, on average, about 11 months. For those patients who are unable to tolerate the side effects to these first line drugs, or those for whom their disease no longer responds to treatment, the only treatment available was palliative care to make their last months of life as comfortable as possible.
This news is, therefore, very much welcomed by the kidney cancer community as the first and only second line treatment available within NHS Scotland that can increase progression free survival by more than 40% compared to other second
line options (that are not recommended for use within the NHS). In addition, axitinib has a more acceptable side effect profile than current second line treatments resulting in improved quality of life for patients on this drug.

James Whale MBE, Chairman of the Kidney Cancer UK, the UK’s leading kidney cancer charity, welcomed the news: ‘This recommendation is very much welcomed, not only by kidney cancer patients living in Scotland, but those also living in the rest of the UK. It is very much hoped that this decision by the SMC will have an influence on the ongoing National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) appraisal of axitinib for a positive outcome, allowing
clinicians throughout the UK to prescribe the drugs desperately needed by cancer patients to improve and extend their lives. This brings hope to the thousands of kidney cancer patients throughout the UK where previously there was none.’

Paul Sharp, an advanced renal cancer patient living in Scotland, added to James Whale’s comments with: ‘This is fantastic news for kidney cancer patients in Scotland and their families. The provision of a second line treatment is a
lifeline to Scottish patients and by approving this medicine for use, gives hope and comfort to many cancer sufferers in Scotland. In coming to this welcome decision, the Scottish Medicines Consortium have acted swiftly to provide our world class clinicians with the tools to improve cancer treatment in Scotland and to ensure that patients have as strong a chance as possible in surviving cancer for longer and enjoy a significantly enhanced quality of life.’
For more information please visit:
http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/SMC_Advice/Advice/855_13_axitinib_Inlyta/axitinib_Inlyta_Resubmission