NICE Recommendation of axitinib

Kidney Cancer UK welcomes the news today that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are recommending axitinib (Inlyta) for the second line treatment of people with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after first line treatment with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor or a cytokine either fails or is not tolerated. This recommendation comes after an earlier negative decision by NICE, which was appealed by the manufacturer of Inlyta, Pfizer, the Royal College of Physicians, Kidney Cancer UK and Kidney Cancer UK.
This recommendation means Inlyta will be the first second-line treatment for RCC available on the NHS in England, giving patients with advanced kidney cancer a further treatment option and renewed hope at a very difficult point in their cancer journey.
James Whale MBE, kidney cancer survivor, broadcaster and chair of the Kidney Cancer UK said; “Whilst we welcome this news we are concerned to read that patients who have been treated with other tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as pazopanib, will not be subject to statutory funding for Inlyta; that will only be available to those who previously took sunitinib (a kinase inhibitor) as first line treatment. It is crucial that all patients have access to treatment options recommended by their oncologist at all stages of the disease. Throughout the consultation, Kidney Cancer UK represented the views of kidney cancer patients to NICE, working to ensure this preliminary recommendation remains to the final guidance.
We will continue to represent kidney cancer patients to ensure all possible avenues of treatment are available to halt the march of this disease while offering continued support to patients throughout their kidney cancer journey.”